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On December 09 2011 15:44 Falling wrote:Show nested quote +On December 09 2011 15:26 DoctorHelvetica wrote:On December 09 2011 15:23 peekn wrote:Ugh... I really with that the US would just switch over to the metric system, it is easier to teach, understand, and use. The standard system is just archaic and dumb I hate it... And those pros to the Standard system really don't apply, I applaud you for attempting to make the Standard system look good, but you can apply those to any system of measurement. I want the metric system  Is it worth the cost and political resistance though? It would be a pretty big endeavor and it's definitely low on the list of concerns for the government right now. If this was the early 1900s it would have been pretty easy to do it gradually at the state level but because of interstate highways and the influence of national corporations it would be pretty much impossible to do it in that manner now. Thing is a lot of the Commonwealth countries only went metric in the 70's. I imagine it was a big switch, but it seemed to work for the most part. America is bigger I know, but I think it could be done. Perhaps not during your current economic downturn, but within the next decade. Of course it won't because status quo is easiest. But Imperial really is an inconvenient system (Stones and thou's and whatever else you have.) Base 10 is much more straight forward.
We don't use stone, I think they still use that in the UK though.
Well I just learned there's a single metric interstate in the US! Globalism is the future I'm sure we'll change over at some point. It's not an urgent matter though.
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On December 09 2011 13:41 Medrea wrote:
As an American, I am both confused and angered by the metric system.
*facepalm*
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UK still use miles pounds and inches but shorter distances than miles are generally done in meters. Anything serious is done in metric in work or school though. Temperature is celcius
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To OP: I have used metric all my life, and had to teach myself the basics of the imperial system (I refuse to call it 'standard' because I'm sure there are many people in the world for whom the metric system is 'standard') when I went to the USA on vacation. Personally, I think the metric system is clearly superior, since (like you said) everything is in increments of 10 times. No need to remember 12 inches in a foot, three feet in a yard, etc. I think the advantages of the imperial system don't really apply - it's very common to talk about half meters and to buy half a liter of milk. I'd even say that your point about the imperial system being more natural with fractions is wrong as well. In the metric system it's easier to convert fractions back into the underlying units. Half a meter is 50 centimeters, while half a foot is 6 inches, which you have to remember separately. How many yards in half a mile? I have no idea, but I know there's exactly 500 meters in half a kilometer.
On December 09 2011 15:29 DoctorHelvetica wrote:Show nested quote +On December 09 2011 15:25 Fontong wrote:On December 09 2011 15:21 DoctorHelvetica wrote:
I don't think ten fingers is the only reason why a base 10 system is easier to understand. A base ten system can only be represented by two numbers in the conversions (1 and 0) right so it would seem much easier to do conversions this way then using base 8 or 12 which has more complex multiplication tables.
For people studying math/science a lot this might seem really trivial but for the general population trust me it isn't. I'm probably fucking up the math terminology but I hope what I said makes sense. It's a lot easier to multiply something by 10 in your head than by 8, there's less numbers involved you just add a zero infact you don't even need to do calculations in your head at all I think he meant that if we actually used a system of counting based in 8 or 12 that would be easier. Of course multiplying things by 10 is easy in a base 10 system. If I used the base 12 system 1234567890ab, all I would have to do to multiply something by 12 would be tack on a 'b' at the end, just like you would do with a zero in base 10. i don't understand math well enough to see how that works or why that works or wrap my head around the idea of anything but 0-9 but i'll take your word for it i was going to ask why base 8 or 12 would be better but if i can't comprehend the existence of it in the first place i doubt i'll understand the reasons behind why it would be better than 10
The base 10 system simply means that in a number, every digit represents a different power of 10. For example, the number 471 means 4 times 100 (10 squared), 7 times 10, 1 times 1 (which is 10 to the power 0). If you were to take a system with only 8 digits (0,...,7) then each digit would represent a different power of 8. So writing down 471 would mean 4 times 64 (8 squared), 7 times 8, 1 times 1. (In 10 digits this evaluates to 256+56+1 = 313) Now if we were to multiply this by 8 (still in our 8 digit system), we would have 4 times 8 cubed, 7 times 8 squared, 1 times 8 and 0 times 1, which is 4710. As you can see, we simply added a zero to the end, just like we would have when multiplying by 10 in a 10-digit system. I hope this clarifies the calculations in different systems somewhat 
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On December 09 2011 15:46 Cubu wrote:
nobody among the metric users use dekameter and hectometer and most probably didnt even know it existed, like me. And yeah, that feet yard system is stupid. Using that system is like washing your clothes with your hands when you can just use a washing machine.
I dont know about you but in the netherlands we learn about decameter, hectometer and all the others in elementary school.
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I love how the Americans here all want to switch to Metric xD
It's clearly the better measurement system. When people run out of things to protest, we should have Occupy Imperial Measurements... something like that.
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On December 09 2011 13:32 Keyboard Warrior wrote:What system of measurement do you use/prefer at home? Personally? In your country? I've always been torn between the two, as I spontaneously one or the other, depending on use. If its a chemistry class, or if I'm building and measuring something specific, then it has to be on metric. For everything else, ice cream, milk, paint, water, its Standard. Here are the pros of each system or measure Advantages of Metric 1. Simple names. One unit per category and is only determined according to the prefix (centimeter, millimeter, dekameter, etc.) Less words to memorize than yard, feet, inches, etc. Also, the names are already an indication of their relation to one another. 2. Conversion by 10. Everything is divisible or multipliable by 10. There is no random arbitrary conversion from one unit to another say 12 inches = 1 foot, and how many feet are in a yard? 3. Use of 10 also fits to our number system, which is also based on 10. We simply move the decimal point if we need to change units - 101 meters = 10.1 dekameters = 1.01 hectometers = 0.101 kilometers. Advantages of Standard 1. Standard goes more naturally with fractions - quarter of a pint, half foot, etc. Technically, you don't say half meter but rather 50 centimeters or 500 millimeters. 2. Standard units are more practical and convenient. No one goes to the grocery to buy 400ml drink, instead, they buy it in 12 ounces. No one buys 5 meters of wood, instead, they buy it is 1x1x12, all in feet. What do you use? What do you think are the pros and cons of both system of measurement? Do you have specific examples in your country or personally where one is better than the other? Poll: Standard or MetricMetric (meter, centimeter, kilometer) (3360) 85% Standard (inches, feet, yards) (581) 15% 3941 total votes Your vote: Standard or Metric (Vote): Standard (inches, feet, yards)
(Vote): Metric (meter, centimeter, kilometer)
I dont find anything good with the imperial system at all. The more "practical and convinient" only has to do with you being used to it. I dont even know what you mean when you say an ounce.
Edit:
Mista_masta explained it great.
+ Show Spoiler +On December 09 2011 15:55 Mista_Masta wrote:To OP: I have used metric all my life, and had to teach myself the basics of the imperial system (I refuse to call it 'standard' because I'm sure there are many people in the world for whom the metric system is 'standard') when I went to the USA on vacation. Personally, I think the metric system is clearly superior, since (like you said) everything is in increments of 10 times. No need to remember 12 inches in a foot, three feet in a yard, etc. I think the advantages of the imperial system don't really apply - it's very common to talk about half meters and to buy half a liter of milk. I'd even say that your point about the imperial system being more natural with fractions is wrong as well. In the metric system it's easier to convert fractions back into the underlying units. Half a meter is 50 centimeters, while half a foot is 6 inches, which you have to remember separately. How many yards in half a mile? I have no idea, but I know there's exactly 500 meters in half a kilometer. Show nested quote +On December 09 2011 15:29 DoctorHelvetica wrote:On December 09 2011 15:25 Fontong wrote:On December 09 2011 15:21 DoctorHelvetica wrote:
I don't think ten fingers is the only reason why a base 10 system is easier to understand. A base ten system can only be represented by two numbers in the conversions (1 and 0) right so it would seem much easier to do conversions this way then using base 8 or 12 which has more complex multiplication tables.
For people studying math/science a lot this might seem really trivial but for the general population trust me it isn't. I'm probably fucking up the math terminology but I hope what I said makes sense. It's a lot easier to multiply something by 10 in your head than by 8, there's less numbers involved you just add a zero infact you don't even need to do calculations in your head at all I think he meant that if we actually used a system of counting based in 8 or 12 that would be easier. Of course multiplying things by 10 is easy in a base 10 system. If I used the base 12 system 1234567890ab, all I would have to do to multiply something by 12 would be tack on a 'b' at the end, just like you would do with a zero in base 10. i don't understand math well enough to see how that works or why that works or wrap my head around the idea of anything but 0-9 but i'll take your word for it i was going to ask why base 8 or 12 would be better but if i can't comprehend the existence of it in the first place i doubt i'll understand the reasons behind why it would be better than 10 The base 10 system simply means that in a number, every digit represents a different power of 10. For example, the number 471 means 4 times 100 (10 squared), 7 times 10, 1 times 1 (which is 10 to the power 0). If you were to take a system with only 8 digits (0,...,7) then each digit would represent a different power of 8. So writing down 471 would mean 4 times 64 (8 squared), 7 times 8, 1 times 1. (In 10 digits this evaluates to 256+56+1 = 313) Now if we were to multiply this by 8 (still in our 8 digit system), we would have 4 times 8 cubed, 7 times 8 squared, 1 times 8 and 0 times 1, which is 4710. As you can see, we simply added a zero to the end, just like we would have when multiplying by 10 in a 10-digit system. I hope this clarifies the calculations in different systems somewhat
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I use metric more often at work, but obviously for everyday life I need to use standard/imperial or w/e you wanna call it cuz I live in the US.
bonus points if you can guess what field I work in by these numbers: 0.635, 1.00, 1.27, 2.00, 2.54, 3.96, 5.04
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Canada = metric for the most part. Some things are imperial though like the amount of hair to get cut for a hair cut, length of nails and... the length of your penis among others...
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On December 09 2011 16:05 Gatsbi wrote:
I use metric more often at work, but obviously for everyday life I need to use standard/imperial or w/e you wanna call it cuz I live in the US.
bonus points if you can guess what field I work in by these numbers: 0.635, 1.00, 1.27, 2.00, 2.54, 3.96, 5.04
My guess would be that youre an electric engineer and that its cable sizes. A bit off-topic though.
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On December 09 2011 16:05 Gatsbi wrote:
I use metric more often at work, but obviously for everyday life I need to use standard/imperial or w/e you wanna call it cuz I live in the US.
bonus points if you can guess what field I work in by these numbers: 0.635, 1.00, 1.27, 2.00, 2.54, 3.96, 5.04
Cryptology.
Edit: Google tells me Bulk Cables and Wires.
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I use both depending on what it is.
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Lol I agree with poster that is incredulous that non-metric is "standard". I live in the US, but I really wish that everywhere in the world just use metric.
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I think the real question is, does any in england still measure weight in stones? If so I want to understand this measurement system. Seems entertaining.
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Imperial for every day life, I am 6'1", 180 pounds, etc.
When working I have to use metric. Imperial unit conversions are so stupid. I also work with nanometer scale ideas and I've never heard of anyone referring to something as nanoinches or nanofeet.
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I use Metric System which is the "Standard" in my country
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On December 09 2011 16:11 Brosy wrote:
I think the real question is, does any in england still measure weight in stones? If so I want to understand this measurement system. Seems entertaining.
British people still refer to people's weights in stones.
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I use the Standard System, as Metric is basically non-existent in my day to day life, save for buying liquids, I guess. I don't really care about using either system, though, don't think it makes that large of a difference in the end, and with smart phones, conversions are always a google search away.
I find it interesting that everyone notes that the Metric system should be used globally because it's the easiest system to learn, but on the same token, English is commonly disputed as being the hardest language to learn, yet is the dominant global language. Quite interesting.
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Metric since it's standard, but there are still a bunch of stuff in imperial measurements.
For example screen size is still in inches, pants are most of the time in inches, in construction most things are in inches (when it comes to the dimensions of the materials, the actual measurements when building stuff is metric). In chemistry where I'm studying the closest I've gotten to imperial is sterilizing stuff with UV light at a wavelength of 10 µ" (254 nm).
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I find it hilarious that you call "Standard" the one system that is not standard around the world.
Seriously, whats with that. Metric system is the standard everywhere but the US and a few select countries out there.
To be honest, I wonder WHY hasn't the US switched to metric yet. It's intuitive and simple, feets/inches/yards just don't make sense IMO, but I guess that's about how used you are about it heh.
I understand the use of Farenheit although I think using a 0-100 scale in relation to water is simpler. However, the feet/inches/yards just don't make sense at all for someone who wasn't born with it. Same thing with pounds in relation to kilograms.
Yeah, 100% metric/kilo system for me.
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EPT
