They always say how the metric system is superior because it uses units of 10 and 100 so can easily be calculated, but why does that mean the rest of us should use it? After all, our clock is divided into 12 hours (just like the foot), a circle has 360 degrees which divides evenly by 12 but not by 100, and it is so well embedded into our culture.
So then what about significant figures...where you can only use the number of digits you start with? If you have 5, divide by 2, you have 2.5 but have to round up to 3 because of significant figures. So then you want to get back to where you were, you multiply that result by 2 and you get 6. So 5 and 6 are essentially the same thing, in a scientists mind, by that rationale. I mean, I understand you can't say that you are able to divide 5 by 2 and get 2.50000000 exactly, but let's use a little common sense here people! Anyone else feel the same way?
2007-07-26
06:09:07
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12 answers
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asked by
rhyno
3