The example you present with adding fractions is a very poignant one. I've come across something similar when I spilled my metric and customary sockets on the floor and had to arrange them back in order in the toolbox. The sockets labeled with millimeters were ordered in moments. The customary ones took a while.
Mind you, I don't deal with fractions on daily basis, and you can imagine that a mechanic who uses the customary sockets each day, would probably have had no issue there. But you have to admit, metric can sometimes show off its simplicity in surprising ways.
Remek
To the USMA list membersHere is an email I sent with the reply from the National Math Panel.Norm Werling----- Original Message -----From: National Math PanelSent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 08:51Subject: RE: Full use of the International System of Units (SI), the metric systemDear Mr. Werling:
Thank you for your message and interest in the National Math Panel. There are many who share your sentiments. We will be sure to pass your comments along to the panel.
Thank you again for your interest.
Ida R Eblinger Kelley
Deputy Director for Administration
National Math Panel
U.S. Department of Education
-----Original Message-----
From: Norman & Nancy Werling [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 10:32 PM
To: National Math Panel
Subject: Full use of the International System of Units (SI), the metric system
Ladies and Gentlemen:
About a week ago, our ten year old granddaughter came home from school and told her mother that they had learned the metric system. I think that her use of words was really accurate because once the children learned the prefixes: milli, centi, deci, deka, hecto, and kilo; they have really learned the system. This is true because once these are learned the addition of the unit name identifies the rest.
I have often asked adults if they would like prefer it if our money were not decimalized. Invariably the answer is absolutely not! Then I will point the fact that property tax rates are quoted in mills per dollar and ask what that means. Seldom do adults know that a mill is one thousandths of a dollar although they usually know that a cent is one hundredths of a dollar, and that a dime (think deci) is one tenths of a dollar. So then I ask what would be so difficult to apply this same principle to volume, weights, and distance?
The metric system is so easy. The avoidance of its use by Americans is sad if not frightening. So many equate it with France (and unfortunately too many have negative feelings toward France, even though they befriended us during the Revolutionary War), where it was first developed. Few Americans realize that it has spread throughout the entire world including virtually all English speaking countries. Even the U.K. is dragging itself toward metric because they need to conform to the E.U. if they intend to be part of the European economy. Canada would have completed metrication were it not for our resistance.
I like to present this little problem to friends to demonstrate the ease of adding millimeters as compared to fractions of an inch. Add 1/64 + 1/32 + 1/16 + 1/8 + 1/4 + 1/2 = ______. Now add 1 + 2+ 4 + 5 + 6 + 7=______.
Please add them before checking the answer lower on this email. After adding them and before checking for the result, please answer these two questions:
How long did it take to add the fractions of an inch? How long did it take to add the millimeters? Now scroll down to the answer.
The fractions add to 63/64ths on an inch which is virtually identical to 25 millimeters, the sum of the whole numbers
Many if not most adults that I have asked to do this don't remember how to obtain the lowest common denominator, but they have absolutely no problem adding the whole numbers.
Not only that but most adults have difficulty giving quick answers to the difference between ounces and fluid ounces, the relationship of ounces to pounds, of fluid ounces to a pint, a pint to a quart, a quart to a gallon, the number of feet in a mile, yards in a mile, square feet in an acre, the feet on each side of an acre if it were a square, etc. It is unfortunate that most Americans seem to know very little about the so-called U.S. Customary measures and yet they continue to defend it.
Sincerely,
Norman V. Werling
1240 Hunters Drive
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
