From: Pat Naughtin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Brij Bhushan Vij <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,"U.S. Metric Association"
<[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [USMA:33152] Quarter Metre Scale RE: RE: Bright secrets
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 17:56:10 +1000
Dear Brij, Daniel, and All,
One of the reasons that a 300 millimetre ruler is so convenient in schools
is that most schools also use A4 paper that is 297 millimetres by 210
millimetres and, as you can see, the 300 millimetre ruler is just able to
be
used to rule a vertical line down an A4 page. A 250 millimetre ruler would
have to be used twice to do the same job.
On another issue, I think that it is counterproductive to reintroduce
fractions (such as a quarter metre) when you are trying to introduce a
fully
decimal system of units. I think that this just leads to more confusion and
extra effort.
As an example think about the introduction of decimal currency in the USA
in
1792. The introduction of decimal dimes and cents was done at the same time
as the ideas of the previous 'pieces of eight' were preserved by including
half-dollars and quarter-dollars in the currency of the USA.
Question: How long does it take to introduce a decimal system?
Answer: So far, it has taken the USA 213 years (2005 - 1792) and there's
still a way to go.
Question: Is this time inevitable?
Answer: Only if you don't have a clear and definite goal in the first
place.
If you are not sure whether you are aiming for a decimal system or a
combined decimal/binary/fractional method then you should allow for a
decimal transition that will take at least 100 years (in the case quoted
here it is 213 years so far).
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
Geelong, Australia
61 3 5241 2008
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.metricationmatters.com
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on 2005-06-10 10.36, Brij Bhushan Vij at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Dan & friends:
>> .....why would you or anyone relate it to a foot?
> I talked of providing 'Quarter Metre Scale to students using 'foot
ruler'
> long ago on this list. This may be Inch-Metric (10" or 25 cm) distance
and
> comfortable or children to handle.
> Brij Bhushan Vij <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> (Friday - Kali5106-W08-05)/D-162 (2005 June 10H0608(decimal) IST
> Aa Nau Bhadra Kritvo Yantu Vishwatah -Rg Veda
> Jan:31; Feb:29; Mar:31; Apr:30; May:31; Jun:30
> Jul:30; Aug:31; Sep:30; Oct:31; Nov:30; Dec:30
> (365th day of Year is World Day)
> ******As per Kali V-GRhymeCalendar******
> Telephone: +91-11-25590335
>
>
>> From: "Daniel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
>> CC: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> Subject: [USMA:33151] RE: Bright secrets
>> Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 17:57:06 -0400
>>
>> When you measure 30 cm on a ruler that only displays centimetres why
would
>> you or anyone relate it to a foot? If you measure 12 inches on a ruler
>> that only shows inches, why would you or anyone think of it as 30 cm?
It
>> is only when you have a dual scale and peek over to the other side do
you
>> see a connection between 30 cm and a foot.
>>
>> Calling certain metric dimensions by English unit names is to be
expected.
>> We see metres changed to yards in the media even if the numbers stay
the
>> same, we see 1500 m being called a metric mile in sports. In some
metric
>> countries a pound is an acceptable term for 500 g. It works as long as
the
>> actual measurements are done in metric and not the other way around.
>>
>> I wouldn't put to much into this practice.
>>
>> Dan
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: H. Maenen
>> To: U.S. Metric Association
>> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> Sent: Thursday, 2005-06-09 11:27
>> Subject: [USMA:33149] RE: Bright secrets
>>
>>
>> I agree that a length of 30 cm is a handy length, but I never, ever
give
>> it the unit name 'foot'.
>> The metric system does not preclude the use of such modules as the
BWMA
>> and other enemies of the metric system always proclaim. Many school
rulers
>> do have that length, but no-one in an older metric country calls it 'a
foot
>> ruler'; it is simply a 30 cm ruler. We only use the British foot in
>> aircraft navigation, but I hope to see the day when we will revert to
>> metric in that sector. Something called 'foot' is also used to express
the
>> length of organ pipes.
>>
>> Han
>>
>> ========================================
>> Message date : 09-06-2005 10:28
>> From : "Stephen Humphreys"
>> To : "U.S. Metric Association"
>> Copy to :
>> Subject : [USMA:33148] RE: Bright secrets
>> Not to flood this board with an apparently two-person debate I will
be
>> brief
>> in my final response:-
>>
>>> When it comes down to it there is no fence to sit on and trying to do
>> so
>>> lacks integrity and a proper understanding of the issues.
>>
>> Fortunately I don't sit on a fence.
>> I get your point - however I regularly choose a side of the fence
to
>> be in
>> (rather than on).
>> A good example of this being done by other people would be to look
at
>> australia. Although the state is 100% metric (or prob about 95% if
>> one were
>> to be pedantic) people still use the "foot" unit to describe
things.
>> I
>> asked an australian person why, considering the unit would not have
>> been
>> taught to him and he looked oddly at me and exclaimed "because its
a
>> handy
>> length". He also asked why I asked such a weird question (which
>> reminded me
>> how few people get really bothered about this).
>>
>>>
>>> * The EURIC phenomenon
>>>
>>> If you look back over my comments you'll find that I do not rely on
>> any
>>> opinion about you supplied by him or anyone else. I merely make
>>> observations about what you have actually said on this forum and
>> elsewhere.
>>
>> I note this.
>> I was just hoping that any "insider information" you received could
be
>> treated as fact. It looks like you don't treat it this was - so
thats
>> fine.
>> Interestingly I happen to know he 'gets off' on people talking
about
>> him.
>> So I'll stop! ;-)
>>
>>>
>>> * Quality and purpose of debate on this forum
>>>
>>> The purpose of this forum isn't to debate the pros and cons of
>> metrication.
>>> If you review the page that introduces it:
>>
>> Please note that I don't think I've debated that way.
>> The only criticisms I have made of the metric system here is as a
>> result of
>> links to the BWMA board - by you!
>> Yes, I "have a go" over there. But my style of debate is extremely
>> different here because I respect the wants of the posters here. If
>> anyone
>> were to compare my style on the BWMA site to my style here they'd
see
>> a
>> different person - this is deliberate. However I think that adding
an
>> opinion to a debate is not a bad thing.
>> Also - I feel compelled to correct bad information from a UK
>> perspective
>> because it does not help those who support USMA. An example would
be
>> if
>> someone said "The UK use kilometres on our roads so why not us?" -
I
>> would
>> think it helpful to correct that assertion. (I don't want to use a
>> real
>> example as I believe such debates are finished).
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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