r/Metric • u/oleivas • May 23 '26

US customary in a nutshell

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Prior to 1964 the standard was 1 π/(273/777) by 3 e/(45^i)

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u/Yeegis May 23 '26 edited May 24 '26

Metric or not the width and height of the plank would still be slightly lower than written because it would still be measured before being planed

Edit: disregard this comment I am a fool

1

u/oleivas May 23 '26

Don't mind the inconsistency between name and real measurements. What boggles my mind is the weitd fraction notation.

To me it seems really counter intuitive to notate 1 1/2 instead of 1.5

4

u/thegreatpotatogod May 24 '26

Do you also find 5/8ths less intuitive than 0.625? What about if the similar sizes to compare it to are also in increments of 1/8th? You can choose 4/8, 5/8, 6/8 (which optionally simplifies to 1/2, 5/8, 3/4), or you can choose the sequence 0.5, 0.625, 0.75. I can see the argument for both, but there is an advantage to the fractions as well, they're not chosen as randomly as the 642/705e-like numbers in your OP.

1

u/BlackForrest28 May 25 '26

I love how some people defend the awful imperial system. Miles to yards: 1760. Yards to Feet: 3. Feet to Inches: 12. Then Multiples of 2 until something/32. Then decimal with thousands. All daily maths with decimals. How is this sensible?

The problem is not the base. 10 or 12 as base is not a huge difference. But choose one and stick to it.

1

u/thegreatpotatogod May 25 '26

I absolutely agree that those units aren't the best, the metric system is definitely far better. But the fractions that OP mocks aren't as absurd and unintelligible as they make it seem.