Why is the U.S. still not using the metric system?

[Omega124]

For the C vs. F, you're both wrong. If you picked Kelvin, you're also wrong.

Rankine all the way, people!

 

[Joecoolyo]

That's right for the non-honors students.

For honors:

8th Grade - Algebra
9th - Geometery
10th - Algebra II
11th - Trig and Algebra III Pre-Calc
12th - Calculus or pre-calc

This is my math schedule and I'm in regular.

For honors in my school, you have to bump everyone of those back a grade, which means Algebra in 7th grade, Geometry in 8th, etc.

 

[Tee Kay]

For the C vs. F, you're both wrong. If you picked Kelvin, you're also wrong.

Rankine all the way, people!

The international scientific and engineering community chose Kelvin.

You lose.

 

[onedreamer]

Because it is obviously completely irrelevant to my point and the topic in general? That the export of sophisticated military hardware by the US is clearly pervasive? Because, as Uppi and I have pointed out, it is not limited to military hardware? That a sizeable amount of sophisticated technological equipment which is exported by the US to the entire world is based on non-metric parts and fasteners?

While this predicament apparently doesn't impact you directly, it certainly does many others.

You haven't pointed out anything. You have made ZERO examples to support your theory that imperial system affects a great number of people outside the anglosaxon world. Stop saying "a sizeble amount of equipment" or "clearly pervasive" or "insert generalist statement here". I see no numbers, no names, no sources. I only see the personal convinction of a person who lives in the US and claims to know better the everyday life of someone outside the US.

Of course tools and screws are not high-tech equipment. You just need to keep a supply of them, if a piece of equipment comes with imperial threads. And with high-tech I obviously do not mean stuff that is commonly used, but special equipment.

So you yourself disproof your theory. If it's "obviously" not commonly used but special equipment, it does NOT affect the non anglosaxon world in a significant way. I remind you that the point of Formaldehyde is refuting my statement that the rest of the world doesn't care if the anglosaxon countries insist in using their imperial system. When you speak of so broad categories, it is completely pointless to point out that there are exceptions to the rule. As if we didn't know.

For example, if you order laser optics from a US company (even if sold from the European subdivision), you will usually get optics with a diameter 1 inch or 1/2 inch. And then you need holders for these optics, witch need to match those dimensions (at least you can get those with metric threads, leading to devices that use imperial and metric units...).[...]
And what length is the diagonal of your monitor? Do you shop for 24 inches or 60.96cm?

A part from the fact that this is special equipment, as you mentioned. To order a holder for a lens of 1/2 inch does not require you to know the imperial system. You just order "a holder for a lens of 1/2 inch".
About the monitor, it is the same thing as above. And when american watch the olympic games, the speak about the new 100meters record or the equivalent in feet? Ask any number of european or chinese or brazilians with 3-4 monitors at home between PCs and TVs to tell you instantly the conversion between inches and centimeters. I bet many would not even know that inches are used instead of the metrical system somewhere in the world.

Another example is, if I want to coat surfaces with extremely good coating and there are only two companies in the world who can do this and both are American, I have to use imperial units to design the holder because it has to match their equipment.

This isn't an example, it's a theory, a supposition, a fictitious scenario. Examples are based on reality.

 

[Formaldehyde]

This is my math schedule and I'm in regular.

For honors in my school, you have to bump everyone of those back a grade, which means Algebra in 7th grade, Geometry in 8th, etc.

The Wiki article mentioned that California is trying to do the same thing, but they are embroiled in a lawsuit to prevent it. I would tend to agree with those who are trying to block it, since I think it is better to keep the math more in sync with the science classes. I think it is better if the students can directly see the application of what they have learned in the math classes instead of having to wait a prolonged period.

And high school calculus is likely not going to be anywhere near as rigorous as college-level courses, especially at engineering schools where you typically don't get into the application of that math until at least the Sophomore year.

The international scientific and engineering community chose Kelvin.

You lose.

Indeed. I feel like I'm converting km/hr to furlongs/fortnight again to get extra credit for the optional question in my Physics 101 class.

 

[azzaman333]

The Wiki article mentioned that California is trying to do the same thing, but they are embroiled in a lawsuit to prevent it. I would tend to agree with those who are trying to block it, since I think it is better to keep the math more in sync with the science classes. I think it is better if the students can directly see the application of what they have learned in the math classes instead of having to wait a prolonged period.

Surely it'd be better to accelerate the science rather than delay the math?

 

[Rashiminos]

Its 3 in NYS (Its PROBABLY 3 in FL as well), I've had a feeling for some time you don't really NEED Math for much outside of school (Aside from professions that obviously need Math) but if I'm wrong please correct me.

There are a lot of occasions where one is trying to create something and math would be useful.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Surely it'd be better to accelerate the science rather than delay the math?

Many Americans who have the intellect to do well in college are now getting completely lost in both subjects long before they graduate from high school as it is. And if they aren't required electives at college, they typically completely avoid them there as well. Even so, they are usually "science for non-science majors" or intro classes.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

I'm gonna start another thread about mathematics curricula, I've derailed this one enough I think.

 

[uppi]

So you yourself disproof your theory. If it's "obviously" not commonly used but special equipment, it does NOT affect the non anglosaxon world in a significant way. I remind you that the point of Formaldehyde is refuting my statement that the rest of the world doesn't care if the anglosaxon countries insist in using their imperial system. When you speak of so broad categories, it is completely pointless to point out that there are exceptions to the rule. As if we didn't know.

I get that you do not care. But you cannot take your experience and say that you speak for the rest of the world, as there are people like me who have to care about imperial measurements to do science.

A part from the fact that this is special equipment, as you mentioned. To order a holder for a lens of 1/2 inch does not require you to know the imperial system. You just order "a holder for a lens of 1/2 inch".

Sure, I could just order the 1 inch lenses. But if I want to know whether a 1/2 inch lens is big enough for my 6mm beam without significant clipping I will have to do the conversions. Or I could waste taxpayer money by always ordering the 1 inch optics, even if the 1/2 inch would suffice.

About the monitor, it is the same thing as above. And when american watch the olympic games, the speak about the new 100meters record or the equivalent in feet? Ask any number of european or chinese or brazilians with 3-4 monitors at home between PCs and TVs to tell you instantly the conversion between inches and centimeters. I bet many would not even know that inches are used instead of the metrical system somewhere in the world.

So they buy things without understanding the specifications. I agree that this happens a lot, but one of problems of the modern free market is exactly this: people do not know what they are buying. Not selling stuff in weird units would be a step in the right direction for better informed customers.

This isn't an example, it's a theory, a supposition, a fictitious scenario. Examples are based on reality.

So now you are telling me that the email in my inbox from one of these two companies telling me to use imperial units (at least they apologized) is fictitious? Personally, I would find it a bit arrogant to dismiss things I have no knowledge of as fictitious.