Imperial Or Metric?

[happy_Alex]

Which, in your opinion is better, Imperial or metric?

I was bought up to use both in the UK (but only taught how to use metric), but I think imperial has the edge for practical reasons:

1. Its fraction based, ie, 12 inches in a foot. So 12 has more factors than 10, making it more usefull, if for example you are trying divide up a piece of wood.

2. The units are more human, e.g. and inch is roughly the length of an adult thumb digit (metacarpal), and a foot is the length roughly of a lower arm (though quite a bit longer than my foot, which is 9 1/2 inches.)

3. I've found it easier to make errors when using the metric system, eg cutting out 1018mm instead of 1180mm (easily done, don't be fooled), though thats my fault!

But...

Its easier to multiply with the decimal system...

 

[Azash]

I dislike the imperial system because it's more difficult to change between different units, whereas in the metric system you can just multiply or divide by 10x.

EDIT: Oh, I didn't notice that last line. Nvm!

 

[Perfection]

Metric system is far superior.

I can't imagine what sheer hell doing anything remotely scientific was before it.

As for the units being more human, I don't see how the centemeter isn't, I have a good visual idea of how big it is. (probobly better then I do an inch)

 

[IglooDame]

Which, in your opinion is better, Imperial or metric?

I was bought up to use both in the UK (but only taught how to use metric), but I think imperial has the edge for practical reasons:

1. Its fraction based, ie, 12 inches in a foot. So 12 has more factors than 10, making it more usefull, if for example you are trying divide up a piece of wood.

Yeah, but with metric, you can easily break the ten-factor into smaller factors, unlike with factors of twelve.

 

[Homie]

Yep, metric all the way. Metric makes sense in that you have only one measure for lenght, namely "m" (and we say how many "m" by nm,mm, cm, m, km). While in the imperial system you have one measurement for human height, foot and inches, and one for distance, miles. This is confusing since its 2 different measurements for the same thing, length. Also, the smallest measurement for length is an inch, an inch is huge, that's silly.

 

[Homie]

Th same applies for weight as well. A person is weighed in stones, but flour is measured in ounzes, its too much sillyness. And for anyone doing calculations on length or weight it would be harder with the imperial system.

 

[Yoda Power]

Metric by far

 

[Winner]

Imperial system is obsolete and impractical for the modern world.

But there are far worse things like the Fahrenheit scale

 

[Che Guava]

But there are far worse things like the Fahrenheit scale

Amen to that! Temp's from the states always confuse me at first:

It's dropping down to 30 degrees tonight! Frost warning in effect!

 

[kryszcztov]

Metric. This system embraces ALL the physical measurements you can imagine, relate them one another with the logical decimal counting system, can describe an infinite range within each measurement, is universal (is based on scientific results), can be used with simple calculators, etc...

The imperial system is just the last descendent of all the annoying systems of Medieval Europe, and as such, is just an obsolete system. The only thing you can do with it is being thrilled by the fact that the few units you use are close to your height and weight. That is what I call an experience !!

 

[Marla_Singer]

The metric system has been created in the end of the 18th century by scientists. The imperial system is simply the medieval system which has adopted a British name since Britain has been the last country reluctant to make the change (Probably because of the continental origin of the metric system). As such, it's rather logical that the metric system is sounder to use. It's been created for that exact reason.

In the metric system, a beer pint is still called a pint, it simply represents half a litre. There's absolutely no reason to consider the imperial system has advantages compared to the metric system. Outside of course the obvious one which is that people who's been raised in one system tends to like better that one.

 

[Evil Tyrant]

Metric is better for measurments but I personally like the English system. If I was to design a space ship I would want to use metric but for every day stuff I would stick with the old system.

 

[JohnRM]

We use Imperial in America, and I do not know the Metric system nearly as well. However, the Metric system is far more logical in use and far superior to the Imperial system.

 

[Wolfe Tone]

Both depending on the situation. I buy petrol in litres, but I buy beer in pints.

 

[Fetus4188]

Metric, except for temperature, celcius is too inprecise.

 

[amadeus]

I buy milk in gallons, drive in miles, and measure the house in square feet.

 

[storealex]

Metric, except for beers which should always come in pints of Guinness.

 

[Marla_Singer]

Metric, except for beers which should always come in pints of Guinness.

A pint being half a litre...

 

[Mathilda]

My car consumes 7,5 litres of petrol on 100kms.
A cookie to the first one who converts that to how many miles per gallon it does
Is that the same in the US and UK?

Metric all the way!

 

[storealex]

A pint being half a litre...

Aye Lassie!