In 1776 the USA got it right when they adopted the decimal system for their coinage. When will they finish the job and adopt the rest of the metric system?. Converting pounds to ounces, feet to yards, pints to gallons just doesn't make that much sense compared to simply multiplying or dividing by ten.
2007-06-25 08:20:25 · 11 answers · asked by smilingmick 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
The real reason is that major industries would need to completely re-make many expensive pieces of equipment, and they're simply not going to do it unless they're forced to.
Think of all the lumber that's cut to inch sizes. Think of all the nuts, bolts, and washers that are manufactured to inch sizes.
Car manufacturers do everything in metric these days, as they must sell cars around the world. However, the local construction industry has no reason to abandon what they've been doing for decades. The inch-pound-second system may be confusing, but trying to convert entire industries over to metric would be even more confusing, and we'd end up with strange sizes for things.
"Hey, hand me that 9.525-millimeter (3/8") wrench!"
The alternative would be to scrap all the machinery that manufactures any inch-based part and replace it, no doubt costing billions of dollars. We'd end up with 9-millimeter wrenches, 10-millimeter wrenches, and a whole lot of wasted money.
2007-06-25 08:31:25 · answer #1 · answered by lithiumdeuteride 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We were going to "officially" do it in 1980, but it never caught on. We do always have measurements listed though in both metric and customary units. The metric system is used universally by scientists and it's taught in public schools too.
Some say the refusal to change is based on a patriotic resistance, some fear of foreign things and foreign units. But I think the biggest resistance is the problem of making the mental adjustment, since people tend to measure things mentally. Most Americans could tell you about how big an inch is, or drive a certain distance that feels like a mile, or have an idea what a 1-pound object feels like. This isn't the case with most Americans when it comes to meters, kilometers, and kilograms. Unfortunately in the end it's easier to go with the old habits.
2007-06-25 08:29:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't see it happening anytime soon. There's just too much inertia. It hasn't even been seriously considered in 20 years.
Decision-makers view it as an economics problem. On one hand it would take a big one-time expense to convert all engineering, manufacturing, trade, etc to metric.
On the other hand, the benefit would accumulate over time--it would simplify trade and engineering exchanges between countries and prevent huge screw-ups like the mars lander that crashed because someone forgot to convert.
Bottom line: when you do the economic analysis, the present value of the cost to convert outweighs the present value of the net benefit because the benefit lies mostly in the future. Economically, it often pays to be shortsighted in this sense. Money today is worth more than money tomorrow.
Edit--it has nothing to do with the US wanting to be different or better or anything stupid like that. If the change could just be magically done with no cost, anyone with a brain would be for it. The problem is that it's not cheap, and the benefits we would accrue by switching now just don't justify the costs.
2007-06-25 08:25:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because while it is easier, Americans are accustomed to the current system and are loathe to change it. I grew up in another country where the metric system was the norm but to me learning the US system is part of being American. At the end of the day it's really not that big of a deal and not worth the trouble to change with all the othe crap that needs fixing!
2007-06-25 08:29:50 · answer #4 · answered by HoHo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If we got it "right", then explain the $5 and $20 and $50. For that matter, explain the nickel and quarter.
The thing is, it would cost too much money to convert all of our road signs, all of the containers to metric. Not to mention, we like to be different.
2007-06-25 08:28:16 · answer #5 · answered by George P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a metric measuring tape and start measuring objects around your house. Then start guessing the length of things and then check with your measuring tape. The same method could apply to other metric measurements like volume and temperature.
2016-05-20 00:45:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Same reason you're typing on a QWERTY keyboard instead of a more sensible Dvorak keyboard. Inertia.
2007-06-25 09:48:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question. We are arrogant and think the entire world should bow to us and the way we do things just because we have some rednecks that can wave a flag and a leader who is an insult to any leader anywhere.
2007-06-25 08:27:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
ur right but then wat bout some of the sports which don use the metric systiem like football, track (for distance events), swimming (for those half size pool in which you have to do atleast 1flipturn)
2007-06-25 09:00:40 · answer #9 · answered by Nishant P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Write to your Congressperson/Senator.
2007-06-25 08:25:54 · answer #10 · answered by Dave 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋