Drivers fooled by 'MPG illusion'

[Fugitive Sisyphus]

I say we keep the good old mpg measurement and instead teach basic mathematics better in our public schools.

Is this a good compromise everyone?

 

[Mise]

Only if someone can't do basic math in their head...

So you can work out 1/35 - 1/50 in your head?

And don't even TRY to tell me it's easier than working out 0.029 - 0.02 (which is what those numbers are in GPM). Even easier (and more instructive) if it's in Gallons per Hundred Miles, or thousand miles.

 

[bhsup]

That's pretty easy, particular since 35 and 50 are both divisible by 5.

 

[Mise]

That's pretty easy, particular since 35 and 50 are both divisible by 5.

How does that even help...

 

[skadistic]

So you can work out 1/35 - 1/50 in your head?

And don't even TRY to tell me it's easier than working out 0.029 - 0.02 (which is what those numbers are in GPM). Even easier (and more instructive) if it's in Gallons per Hundred Miles, or thousand miles.

As an American fractions are easy. Its American superior thinking skills that keeps us from dumbing down to metrics.

 

[bhsup]

1/35th - 1/50th =
50/1750 - 35/1750 =
15/1750 =
3/350

That's why the divisible by 5 made it simple. It was initial multiplication and subsequent division easy to do in my head. As opposed to if you had said something like 1/29 - 1/63.

 

[Mise]

As an American fractions are easy. Its American superior thinking skills that keeps us from dumbing down to metrics.

By "easy" you mean "takes longer to find the same answer"?

1/35th - 1/50th =
50/1750 - 35/1750 =
15/1750 =
3/350

That's why the divisible by 5 made it simple. It was initial multiplication and subsequent division easy to do in my head. As opposed to if you had said something like 1/29 - 1/63.

So if you were trying to work out how much fuel you'd save by upgrading from 29mpg to 63mpg, you'd struggle, right?

Also, 3/350 isn't easy, and again, isn't readily comparable with other fractions. The point about GPM is that it's already got the same denominator (1 mile), so no "easy" mental arithmetic is necessary.

 

[skadistic]

By "easy" you mean "takes longer to find the same answer"?

Not always does it take longer. When you're use to a system things come quicker.

For me 3 1/4 divided by 1/8 is easier then 3.25 divided by .125. It comes down to familiarity.

 

[El_Machinae]

I think the article was pretty useful, if only to get the wheels spinning. If you're going to be replacing a vehicle (in a 2-car family), then it makes sense to figure out which purchase will save the most gas. And if they think that people will have an easier time making that intuitive leap, then I guess it's something to keep in mind.

 

[Mise]

Not always does it take longer. When you're use to a system things come quicker.

For me 3 1/4 divided by 1/8 is easier then 3.25 divided by .125. It comes down to familiarity.

1) We're talking about subtraction
2) We're talking about subtracting things that don't necessarily have a common denominator (e.g. 29 and 63).
3) We're talking about using the results to compare to results of other subtractions (e.g. comparing 1/29 - 1/63 with 1/33 - 1/50).

Admittedly, 1/4 - 1/8 is easier than 0.25 - 0.125; but comparing the results (1/8 and 0.125 respectively) with the results of other calculations (e.g. 43/391 and 0.110 respectively) is much easier when using decimals (i.e. numbers that already share a common denominator).

 

[skadistic]

1) We're talking about subtraction
2) We're talking about subtracting things that don't necessarily have a common denominator (e.g. 29 and 63).
3) We're talking about using the results to compare to results of other subtractions (e.g. comparing 1/29 - 1/63 with 1/33 - 1/50).

Admittedly, 1/4 - 1/8 is easier than 0.25 - 0.125; but comparing the results (1/8 and 0.125 respectively) with the results of other calculations (e.g. 43/391 and 0.110 respectively) is much easier when using decimals (i.e. numbers that already share a common denominator).

How often do you do fractions?

 

[Mise]

How often do you do fractions?

Given the work that I do, that's kinda like asking how often a politician lies. Why?

 

[rhawn]

The shame is in those hot rod/muscle cars and some suvs that get 7-14 m.p.g. Anything that gets 24+ m.p.g. is decent.

 

[skadistic]

Given the work that I do, that's kinda like asking how often a politician lies. Why?

Politicians never lie!!

Just wondering.

 

[FriendlyFire]

"gallons per mile" <---- Lower number is better
instead of "miles per gallon" <---- Higher number is better

I mean how much simplier can they make it ?