It might be worthwhile looking as which of these prefixes are used in Europe (including the UK) and why they are used.
>From my experience, the prefix "centi" is widely used for centimetres in virtually all European countries, while centilitre is used in some European countries (for example France, but not Germany or the UK), particularly for the sale of drinks, though French wines are often labelled 75 cl when sold on the British market. The prefix "hect" is widely used in "hectare" throughout Europe and "hectrolitre" is used in the wholesale alcoholic drinks trade (at any rate in the UK). "Hectometre" is hardly ever used, thought I have seen a reference to the "hectometerpaal" (hectometre pole) in the Netherlands (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_location_marker). I have seen the prefix "deci" used in Germany for blood sugar concentrations (milligrams per decilitre), but otherwise I do not recall having seen it used elsewhere. I believe that the decilitre is used in this context as the result is a number that is of the order of 100 and no decimal points are needed (thereby reducing the scope for error). I do not recall having seen the prefix deka being used anywhere. I know that part of the Montesori method of teaching uses centimetre cubes in the early years of schooling - both for counting and for measuring. They are a convenient size. My own view is that the use of "centi" is a very useful introduction to decimal sub-units - after all, where does the word "cent" come from and how many cents are there in a dollar. I see no harm in introducing the "unloved prefixes" as an educational exercise to introduce the concept of prefixes of multipliers and sub-multipliers, particularly for children who are not yet comfortable counting to 1000 - after all there are 100 centimetres in a metre and 100 cents in a dollar. The prefixes "milli" and "kilo" can be introduced later and once the children are happy with the concept of prefixes, then "deka", "deci" etc can quietly disappear from the classroom. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John M. Steele Sent: 25 December 2013 17:44 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:53459] Re: Big-Bang Metrication I don't understand the issue. I looked at the back cover and she uses no non-standard abbreviation for liter. She uses the lowercase "l" while upper case "L" is the preferred symbol in the US. However, both have to be regarded as acceptable for consistency with the BIPM's SI Brochure. I haven't seen the inside of the book, only the back cover, but it looks like she spends a lot of time on centi-, deci-, deka-, and hecto. The four "unloved" prefixes are not nearly as import as milli- and kilo-; however they should all be taught. In the US, they may only be used with the meter as units of trade, not with the gram or the liter. That may be a bit complicated to teach kids. _____ From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Cc: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 7:37 PM Subject: [USMA:53457] Re: Big-Bang Metrication Mark. I share your sentiments completely, but it is too late, for she has already published. Linda is eager to have people review her book. In fact, one is in the mail to me right now. I have already pointed out to Linda about lower case l and upper case L when abbreviating liter because her book: Dradnats and the Metric Measurement Kids (Paperback ISBN 978-1492146261) has that error on the back cover. You can see the front and back covers of her book at Amazon. I am confident that Linda would probably send you a copy of her book if you agree to review it for her. Just send her an email: Linda Dawson [email protected] David Pearl MetricPioneer.com <http://metricpioneer.com/> 503-428-4917 ----- Message from [email protected] --------- Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 16:38:50 -0600 From: Mark Henschel <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [USMA:53454] Big-Bang Metrication To: [email protected] > I see she wrote the book first, and then asked for information. > One would think the author should do the research first and then do the > writing. > But better now than after the book is published. > Ususally I have to write long letters to publishers explaining all the > mistakes they make concerning SI after the book is published. > I am still looking to publish my metric poetry in book form with > illustrations. Perhaps she can suggest a publisher for me. > > Mark > > On Tue, Dec 24, 2013 at 2:07 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Linda. The "Big-Bang" way is to simultaneously outlaw the use of >> pre-metric measurement, metricate, reissue all government publications and >> laws, and change education systems to the SI. India's changeover lasted >> from 1 April 1960, when metric measurements became legal, to 1 April 1962, >> when all other systems were banned. The Indian model was extremely >> successful and was copied over much of the developing world. I am eager to >> see how Myanmar handles its transition to SI. >> >> David Pearl MetricPioneer.com 503-428-4917 >> >> ----- Message from [email protected] --------- >> Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 11:17:07 -0800 (PST) >> From: Linda Dawson <[email protected]> >> Reply-To: Linda Dawson <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: Questions -- if you would be so kind to answer >> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> >> >> >> Dear David -- You did a most thorough job of answering my questions -- >>> thanks a million for your time and efforts. I especially like your answer >>> to my question #1...well, your answer to #2 was terrific, also. >>> I infer that the Big Bang (and you also call it quick) route is most >>> efficient. Should I think that a country using this just completely drops >>> Standard markings and gives the lay person no time to learn the system? >>> ....just immerse themselves into it? Not now (for God's sake, >>> it is Christmas eve and tomorrow Christmas Dday), but if you can give me a >>> little more definiton on what the Big Bag Route means....I would, again, be >>> so grateful. You've taught me a lot. >>> Consider this to be your best deed to humanity today. >>> Sincerely, >>> Linda >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> >>> To: Linda Dawson <[email protected]>; U.S. Metric Association < >>> [email protected]> >>> Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 10:07 AM >>> Subject: Re: Questions -- if you would be so kind to answer >>> >>> >>> USMA. I received three questions from Linda Dawson who wrote a book: >>> Dradnats and the Metric Measurement Kids (Paperback ISBN 978-1492146261). I >>> attempt to answer these questions and encourage you to address these >>> questions as well because my answers may not be the best answers. Be sure >>> to include [email protected] when you reply. >>> >>> Hi Linda. I take a shot at addressing your questions: >>> >>> Question 1. When do you think the U.S. will go metric? 5 years? 10 years? >>> >>> Answer 1. The United States began efforts at metrication in 1866 with the >>> Metric Act, so we have been riding around on training wheels for about a >>> century and a half. The United States is already using SI to some degree >>> (see http://metricpioneer.com/fact-sheet for more detail) so The US >>> Metric Association advocates completing United States conversion to the >>> International System of Units, known by the abbreviation SI and also called >>> the modern metric system. The process of changing measurement units to the >>> metric system is called metric transition or metrication. If Hawaii HB36 >>> (see http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype= >>> HB&billnumber=36 for more detail) is successful, then a state-by-state >>> approach could be a catalyst for a national trend that could start as early >>> as 2018. >>> >>> Question 2. Do you see it as a gradual transition? How did other >>> countries, such as Britain, make the change and how many years did it take? >>> >>> Answer 2. There are three common ways that nations convert from >>> traditional measurement systems to the SI. The first is the quick, or >>> Big-Bang route which was used by India in the 1960s and several other >>> nations including Australia and New Zealand since then. The second way is >>> to phase in units over time and progressively outlaw traditional units. >>> This method, favored by some industrial nations, is slower and generally >>> less complete. The third way is to redefine traditional units in metric >>> terms. This has been used successfully (in China for example) where >>> traditional units were ill-defined and had regional variations. (See >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication for more detail.) Metrication >>> in the United Kingdom remains partial. Most of British industry, government >>> and commerce use metric units, but imperial units are officially used to >>> specify journey distances, vehicle speeds and the sizes of returnable milk >>> containers, beer and cider glasses. >>> Imperial units are also often used informally to describe body >>> measurements and vehicle fuel economy. At school in Britain, the use of >>> metric units is the norm, though pupils are taught rough metric equivalents >>> of those imperial units still in daily use. (See >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_the_United_Kingdom for more >>> detail.) >>> >>> Question 3. Talking on the level of 9 and 10 years old, can you give me >>> some interchangeable equations that kids could remember -- as I know that >>> the meter, liter, and gram are interrelated. I'm looking for things such >>> as: 1 kg =? cubic liters? If you could give me about ten, that would be >>> fantastic! >>> >>> Answer 3. There is no such thing as a cubic liter, but rather, a liter is >>> a cubic decimeter. Mass and Volume are not equivalent things, for example, >>> a liter of air has less mass than a liter of water so they have different >>> weights. I already offered to mail you a free SI Ruler that lists those >>> interrelationships but you responded saying that you don't want it. See >>> http://metricpioneer.com/shop/ruler/ for more detail. One liter of water >>> fills one cubic decimeter and weighs one kilogram. So, one thousand liters >>> of water fill one cubic meter and weigh one ton. Be cautious though; this >>> equation works for water, but not for matter of different densities. Have a >>> look at that ruler again and peruse it in its entirety. >>> >>> David Pearl MetricPioneer.com 503-428-4917 >>> >>> ----- Message from [email protected] --------- >>> Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2013 19:36:50 +0000 >>> From: Metric Pioneer <[email protected]> >>> Subject: Questions -- if you would be so kind to answer >>> To: [email protected] >>> >>> >>> From: Linda Dawson <[email protected]> >>>> Subject: Questions -- if you would be so kind to answer >>>> >>>> Message Body: >>>> Hi, David, >>>> My children's book should be coming to you shortly. I know you know a >>>> lot more about metrics than I do. I was wondering if you could enlighten >>>> me. >>>> 1. I know this is a guesstimate, but when do you think the U.S. will go >>>> metric? 5 years? 10 years? ? >>>> 2. Do you see it as a gradual transition? How did other countries, >>>> such as Britain, make the change and how many years did it take? >>>> 3. Talking on the level of 9 and 10 years old, can you give me some >>>> interchangeable equations that kids could remember -- as I know that the >>>> meter, liter, and gram are interrelated. I'm looking for things such as: >>>> 1 kg =? cubic liters? If you could give me about ten, that would be >>>> fantastic! I know this is the holiday season, so you can answer this very >>>> long e-mail at your convenience or answer part of it and finish later. >>>> Most grateful, Linda [email protected] >>>> >>>> -- >>>> This mail is sent via contact form on Metric Pioneer >>>> http://metricpioneer.com/ >>>> >>>> >>> ----- End message from [email protected] ----- >> >> ----- End message from [email protected] ----- >> ----- End message from [email protected] -----
