Rule: Never convert from one system to another. Use whichever is
appropriate. That way you always know tha 10 meters is 10 meters, that
30 feet is 30 feet, and that 20 cubits is 20 cubits. Figuring it any
other way make you crazy. Look at watchmakers' who think their American
conceived 5/16 inch collet lathe is 8 mm. No, don't try to do the
conversion in your head, it does not come out even, and will make you crazy.
graywolf
http://www.graywolfphoto.com
"Idiot Proof" <==> "Expert Proof"
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keith_w wrote:
P. J. Alling wrote:
Very dirty, 7 meters is 23+ feet, that 3 1/2 inch difference per.
foot adds up very quickly. If you're depending on 30 feet of rope
to span 10 meters of distance you're seriously out of luck.
First of all, I get 22 feet, 11 1/2".
I used 1 meter as being 39.37" in length. Did you use another conversion?
Second of all, if I'm figuring on spanning 10 meters of anything, I'll
add plenty of extra to do the job. I'd probably use a calculator,
instead of working it out in my head.
Even a length of rope 10 meters long isn't going to do it!
This was not meant to be an excercise in whose rope is bigger!
I stated *quite* clearly that as an estimate of length given in two
systems of measurement, my idea of multiplying meters by 3 and adding
a little, to get feet, is perfectly okay.
I really didn't mean it to bring out the pedants!
keith
keith_w wrote:
P. J. Alling wrote:
More like 3 Feet 3.6 inches ~ 1 meter...
More than enough to very annoying over 100 yards, (or meters if you
prefer).
danilo wrote:
Wasn't it:
3 feet ~= 1 meter ??
(school was some times ago)
Danilo
For order of magnitude conversions, it's just fine.
If someone mentions a 7 meter length to you, what do you do?
A quick multiplication by three yields 21 feet ~ just add a little bit.
For most practical uses, that's plenty close enough.
As a inch/feet/mile guy, I can visualize 21+ feet quickly and that's
all I need to know.
So what if it *IS* betweeen 21 and 23 feet? For a "quick and dirty"
estimate of length, it's just fine.
That's for those who can't think in metric yet.
keith whaley
