this post was submitted on 24 Sep 2025
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Imperial Wastes So Much Time (media.piefed.ca)
submitted 5 days ago by Sunshine@piefed.ca to c/buyeuropean@feddit.uk
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[–] reksas@sopuli.xyz 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

for example?

[–] HarneyToker@lemmy.world -1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

Base 10 measurement systems such as the metric system cannot divide distances into thirds or sixths without creating irrational numbers. This can be a problem for interior designers and landscape designers, for instance, who regularly need to create drafts for projects that break up measurements that way. The imperial system is more versatile in this particular instance because you can break a foot into 12 inches, which is divisible by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (yes, still wouldn’t be irrational), and 6. Much more versatile when your contractor needs to actually go out and make a measurement in the real world. While metric could be “good enough” for that purpose, it is not the most ideal.

[–] reksas@sopuli.xyz 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

i'd say its still easier to just choose desired level of precision with 3.333333333 than deal with imperial's conversion maddness, even if you can divide them evenly. I guess imperial is ok if you dont ever have to use it with any other system, but lack of combitability is quite isolationist.

With imperial, every unit is like it's own singular instance where in metric each unit is part of the system. Trying to convert between them seems like a nightmare (i dont want to even try, but i assume those who use imperial just have to.)

Like, how many inches are on 1000 miles? Try to convert that exactly in your head without using calculator or paper and within 10 seconds. How many square feet are on 37 acres? How much does 5,5 gallons of water weigh in stones?

Or lets say we have container with measurements of 3x3x3 inches (i'll be merciful and use same unit for each dimension) MysteryLiquid™ (use calculator for this one if you try to calculate it) with density of 3,337 pounds / ...perch..? or more commonly 0,00625 acres (not many area units in imperial). How much does the MysteryLiquid™ in the container weigh in stones?

In metric the density would be about 301 kg/m3.

3 inches is 0.0762 metres so container would be 0.0762^3^ which is 0,000442450728m3 which is 442.450728 cm³

So m =p x V = 301kg x 0.000442m3 = 0.133kg, try calculating that whole thing in imperial, using crazy different units without ripping out your hair. I used sensible units for metric in this one, but i could have used nanograms, mm^3^ and decimeters instead and it would just mildly inconvenience me when calculating, and also produce way bigger numbers but at least the conversion factors would remain same.

Not being able to divide some measurements in even numbers is very small price to pay for being able to calculate things more easily.

[–] HarneyToker@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

You can use both without using them in the same project. Yes, I understand how conversions work.

You can make the same argument going the other way. Isn’t is complicated to go from metric to imperial? May as well just use imperial! See, it’s not a good argument.

[–] reksas@sopuli.xyz 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

well my point was to make those calculations using only imperial units, not randomly go between metric and imperial. Metric calculation was there to just illustrate how it would go using metric units.

[–] HarneyToker@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It’s wonderful that this one single example is easier to handle in metric than imperial. It doesn’t negate my point which is that any human with a functioning brain can use either one depending on the circumstance, and the idea that you need to pick one or the other is a smooth brained take.

[–] reksas@sopuli.xyz 0 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

There is no point in continuing this since you dont want to argue with logic.

[–] HarneyToker@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago

Suit yourself, looks like you’re not reading my comments anyways.

[–] antipiratgruppen@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

because you can break a foot into 12 inches, which is divisible by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (yes, still wouldn’t be irrational), and 6.

12 ÷ 5 = 2.4

Yeah, I get the idea that 12 is nicer than 10 to divide by 3, 4 and 6, but I'm pretty sure that 2.4 is an irrational number.

Edit: Is this what makes it somewhat useful anyway?:

2.4 × 10 = 24
12 × 2 = 24

So, for instance,

120 ÷ 5 = 24

would still be useful?

[–] HarneyToker@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Been ages since I was in a math class and I misquoted why it’s useful. It’s not that it is rational, as 10/3 is also rational. However, 10/3 is not an integer, and therefore cannot be found on a measuring stick or tape measure. There are projects where being able to divide into exact thirds, 6ths, etc are required, and metric is not as useful for that. In a country that also uses imperial interchangeably, it makes sense to use it with projects that are better served with imperial.