Why do people in other countries use kilometers instead of miles and meters instead of feet?

Question

thats weird

Answer 1

Not so weird considering that the US is pretty much the only country that uses miles, feet, inches, etc. as the primary units of measure. The system used in the states even has been given the name "the American system." It makes less sense, at least for me, for one country to go against the rest of the world in how they measure weight, distance, volume, etc. Although I'm American, I much prefer the metric system. It makes more sense. It's much easier to remember that 100 centimeters go into a meter, 1000 meters go into a kilometer than 12 inches in a foot and 5280 feet go into a mile.

Answer 2

The better question would be this: Why does the US (and a few other countries) use miles and feet instead of kilometers?
The French, I believe, came up with the metric system. It's unbelievable how fast you can convert between them, since you are only required to multiply and divide by multiples of ten. It is also very useful because the prefixes used in the metric system (such as kilo-, or deca-) apply to measures of length, volume, and weight ( the standard units being meters, liters, and grams). I think it was President Jefferson who did not like the French at the time this system started being used, and thus decided not to adopt it. Now the vast majority of countries in the world use the metric system due to its convenience and the US is teaching it in schools and trying to make its citizens accustomed to this widely used system.
Hope that helps ;-)

Answer 3

The metric system is far more logical than the English system. To convert meters to kilometers, you just divide by 1000 (trivially easy). To convert feet to miles, divide by 5280 (a pain in the tail). But conversion from one system to another is by no means a simple proposition; there are a billion electrical boxes scattered throughout North America that use 6/32 screws to attach hardware, and nobody is going to replace these with boxes taking screws with metric threads.

Answer 4

Since the majority of world uses kilometers and meters - you might want to rephrase your question and ask why in the US so weird?

There are many countries which has officially adopted metric, but still use the "Imperial" system or use both. In the UK miles are still used and their transition to metric has been very slow.

Answer 5

Because it is a much more logical sytem of measurement. Feet, inches, and miles are of English origin. Only countries that have roots as English colonies still use that system. The rest of the world uses the metric system.

Answer 6

You have to love fractions to use the Imperial system correctly. What is 13/32" divided by 1/11" ? I would rather do the similar problem with metric. Americans had such a hard time in grade school with the English ruler that they have a cemented mental block against learning a much easier measurement system.

Metric is easier to mentally visualize, calculate and much more precise.

Answer 7

Actually, it's not weird. The metric system is the standard of measurement of the international world except for the United States.

Answer 8

Blame Napoleon Bonaparte. He wanted a 'rational' measuring system based on earth measurements rather than the length of the King's foot. What he didn't realize was that the inch goes all the way back to ancient Egypt, and possibly to the stars themselves.

Answer 9

You do realize we're the weirdo's who use feet. Almost the entire world uses the metric system, but the United States has to be different.

Answer 10

Its the US that is out of step with the rest of the world. Metrics is logical, its easy. Quickly--how many pints in a gallon? How many inches in a mile? But by definition you know exactly how many mililiters are in a litre, or how many centimeters are in a meter.