Comments
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@Nellybert , it's a fractionless system that allows for the maximum whole divisions in every sub unit, for proof, just factor the numbers: 12 inches in a foot - 12, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 12 pints in a gallon 5280 feet in a mile - 5280, 66, 60, 55, 48, 44, 40, 33, 32, 30, 24, 22, 20, 16, 15, 12, 11, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
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@shake n blake, well all units of measurement have a basis that proves it’s “value” as a “value” so to speak. It’s kinda interesting that there are prototype standards that give a measurement its value. Like a physical object that is used as a reference for what a value is. “This is weighs 10 grams because it’s 10x this block that we say has a value of 1 gram”
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@Richard Cypher, Ah, I see. We still use it a lot here, but mix in metric too. So I measure my weight in kilos, my height in feet & inches, my beer in pints, shots in ml, speed in mph, long distances in imperial (miles) and short distances in either one. Certainly wouldn’t want to give it up completely.
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@Nellybert , you’re right, base 10 with fractions and decimals is better for building precise things, and now we have digital displays and calculators that simplifies the maths and measurements making metric far easier to think in, my main point is that the imperial system isn’t arbitrary or stupid, just predicated on a different set of skills and developed to handle specific problems.
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@Hot Coffee, Oh I’d agree that it’s definitely not stupid. I often find that I’m working to Imperial in my head (looking at something and thinking “that’s about 3 feet long”) but talk in metric (describing the same thing as “that’s just under a meter long”). I have no idea why, except possibly that metric’s decimals work in calculators and feel easier to discuss.
Something's not right. A Flapjangle should equal 829.025 Dingmarkles, not 828.936.