Metric system or U.S. Standard?

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: rgwalt
Precision has to do with how repeatable a measurement or how well something can be measured. Accuracy deals with how close a measurement is to the real value. You can be accurate but not precise and precise but not accurate. That being said, ZV used the term precision correctly.

ZV- I do have you call you out on your statement that the Fahrenheit scale is more accurate... It really depends on the instrument being used. However, all things being equal, if two instruments are being compared side by side, one measuring F and one measuring C, and they both give the same number of decimal places, the instrument measuring Fahrenheit is more precise.

Ryan

i know the difference between accuracy and precision, thanks. i'm pretty sure it's more accurate. you could pull the thermometer out of whatever you're measuring, stick it back in, and get a different reading. you're still have the same gradations.

 

[Spencer278]

The metric system sucks for measuring most things because it is handicapped by the base 10 stuff where the english system just makes up units that are a conventant length. Like the soda can 12 oz or 355 ml who cares the precision of there soda to 3 siginifiacant figures anyway. The biggest flaw in the metric system is it requires larger number before the unit compared to the english system. Sure the metric system is useful when doing conversion but how often do I do conversions I think never unless it is in a class

 

[aircooled]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
and yeah, the proper name for the system is imperial.

Apparently the U.S. version is called "U.S. Customary"..... news to me

 

[Hector13]

Originally posted by: Spencer278
The metric system sucks for measuring most things because it is handicapped by the base 10 stuff where the english system just makes up units that are a conventant length. Like the soda can 12 oz or 355 ml who cares the precision of there soda to 3 siginifiacant figures anyway. The biggest flaw in the metric system is it requires larger number before the unit compared to the english system. Sure the metric system is useful when doing conversion but how often do I do conversions I think never unless it is in a class

what? why do you think 12oz is the "right" size for a soda?? why not 300ml or 350 ml?

 

[rgwalt]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: rgwalt
Precision has to do with how repeatable a measurement or how well something can be measured. Accuracy deals with how close a measurement is to the real value. You can be accurate but not precise and precise but not accurate. That being said, ZV used the term precision correctly.

ZV- I do have you call you out on your statement that the Fahrenheit scale is more accurate... It really depends on the instrument being used. However, all things being equal, if two instruments are being compared side by side, one measuring F and one measuring C, and they both give the same number of decimal places, the instrument measuring Fahrenheit is more precise.

Ryan

i know the difference between accuracy and precision, thanks. i'm pretty sure it's more accurate. you could pull the thermometer out of whatever you're measuring, stick it back in, and get a different reading. you're still have the same gradations.

I think it is more precise because the Fahrenheit scale has more gradations and precision has to do with how well something can be measured.

BTW, if it sounded like I was talking down to you, I'm sorry. I wasn't. I was simply stating what I've always been taught is the difference between accuracy and precision.

R

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Hector13

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I prefer the English system of measurement. Especially for temperature measurement, more precise. (Note that precision is not a reflection of accuracy, precision is a result of having more available reference points.) Since Fahrenheit has 180 degrees between the freezing and boiling point of water while Centigrade has only 100, Fahrenheit is by definition more precise.

huh? since when are you limited to zero decimal places for measuring temperature?

if you only have 1 degree marks on your thermometer you're limited to 1 decimal place. or if you have a digital thermo and it goes out 2 or 3 places regardless of system. but i'm pretty sure ZV has it wrong, and it's more accurate since it gets closer to the actual measurement. precision is a function of your equipment.

You're right that technically, but practically you are limited to a fixed number of decimal places (usually zero) when describing things in normal, every-day situations. For example, you can picture, say, 1.5 degrees easily. how about 1.48760926 degrees? Your mind will round that to 1.5 in normal, non-scientific situations.

No, I don't have it wrong. Both are equally accurate. Accuracy has to do with the measurement corresponding to reality. Precision has to do with how fine the scale is, and Fahrenheit is an inherently finer scale and therefore more precise.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: rgwalt
ZV- I do have you call you out on your statement that the Fahrenheit scale is more accurate... It really depends on the instrument being used. However, all things being equal, if two instruments are being compared side by side, one measuring F and one measuring C, and they both give the same number of decimal places, the instrument measuring Fahrenheit is more precise.

Ryan

NOWHERE did I say that Fahrenheit was more accurate. I said that it was more PRECISE, with the assumption that the number of decimal places was given.

ZV

 

[adlep]

said that it was more PRECISE

No its not, because it is just a scale....
I can come up with adlep scale of 200 units between freezing and boling points of water....And according to your thinking my scale would be even more precise than the F scale....

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: Hector13

Originally posted by: Spencer278
The metric system sucks for measuring most things because it is handicapped by the base 10 stuff where the english system just makes up units that are a conventant length. Like the soda can 12 oz or 355 ml who cares the precision of there soda to 3 siginifiacant figures anyway. The biggest flaw in the metric system is it requires larger number before the unit compared to the english system. Sure the metric system is useful when doing conversion but how often do I do conversions I think never unless it is in a class

what? why do you think 12oz is the "right" size for a soda?? why not 300ml or 350 ml?

because then you need a number that is 3 digits instead of 2 to discribe something that is the same size. Same with length if I want to say my walls are 8ft tall what would that be in metric 230 some odd centimeters again an extra 2 digits for two more digits I gain a half inch or .5% of the total length in presion.

 

[LukFilm]

Originally posted by: Spencer278

Originally posted by: Hector13

Originally posted by: Spencer278
The metric system sucks for measuring most things because it is handicapped by the base 10 stuff where the english system just makes up units that are a conventant length. Like the soda can 12 oz or 355 ml who cares the precision of there soda to 3 siginifiacant figures anyway. The biggest flaw in the metric system is it requires larger number before the unit compared to the english system. Sure the metric system is useful when doing conversion but how often do I do conversions I think never unless it is in a class

what? why do you think 12oz is the "right" size for a soda?? why not 300ml or 350 ml?

because then you need a number that is 3 digits instead of 2 to discribe something that is the same size. Same with length if I want to say my walls are 8ft tall what would that be in metric 230 some odd centimeters again an extra 2 digits for two more digits I gain a half inch or .5% of the total length in presion.

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: LukFilm

Originally posted by: Spencer278

Originally posted by: Hector13

Originally posted by: Spencer278
The metric system sucks for measuring most things because it is handicapped by the base 10 stuff where the english system just makes up units that are a conventant length. Like the soda can 12 oz or 355 ml who cares the precision of there soda to 3 siginifiacant figures anyway. The biggest flaw in the metric system is it requires larger number before the unit compared to the english system. Sure the metric system is useful when doing conversion but how often do I do conversions I think never unless it is in a class

what? why do you think 12oz is the "right" size for a soda?? why not 300ml or 350 ml?

because then you need a number that is 3 digits instead of 2 to discribe something that is the same size. Same with length if I want to say my walls are 8ft tall what would that be in metric 230 some odd centimeters again an extra 2 digits for two more digits I gain a half inch or .5% of the total length in presion.

Another example of the metric system lacking useful large unit is mass. If your selling metal in bulk for to a junk yard or similair operation they use as there standard unit a metric ton. A metric ton is a little more, about 200 pounds, then a "real" ton. Why would they invent a new metric unit because at 10 dollars a ton it doesn't matter if you have 1017 kg or 1034 you will get the same amount of money so why worry about using 3 extra digits. The metric system is based on the idea that the things to be measured are either 1000 times less then the base unit, the base unit, or 1000 times greater then the base unit. The english system just made up units that are useful but don't have a nice scaling factor.

If you fix the metric system is good for everyday use find something that you use everyday, other a L, that can accurately be represented with a number less then say 20 and a common metric unit.

 

[alareau]

Originally posted by: Spencer278

Originally posted by: Hector13

Originally posted by: Spencer278
The metric system sucks for measuring most things because it is handicapped by the base 10 stuff where the english system just makes up units that are a conventant length. Like the soda can 12 oz or 355 ml who cares the precision of there soda to 3 siginifiacant figures anyway. The biggest flaw in the metric system is it requires larger number before the unit compared to the english system. Sure the metric system is useful when doing conversion but how often do I do conversions I think never unless it is in a class

what? why do you think 12oz is the "right" size for a soda?? why not 300ml or 350 ml?

because then you need a number that is 3 digits instead of 2 to discribe something that is the same size. Same with length if I want to say my walls are 8ft tall what would that be in metric 230 some odd centimeters again an extra 2 digits for two more digits I gain a half inch or .5% of the total length in presion.

wow way to compare two similar mesuring lengths. If i say my walls are 4 meters high, that would be around 140 inchs. Wow that an extra 2 digits!

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: alareau

Originally posted by: Spencer278

Originally posted by: Hector13

Originally posted by: Spencer278
The metric system sucks for measuring most things because it is handicapped by the base 10 stuff where the english system just makes up units that are a conventant length. Like the soda can 12 oz or 355 ml who cares the precision of there soda to 3 siginifiacant figures anyway. The biggest flaw in the metric system is it requires larger number before the unit compared to the english system. Sure the metric system is useful when doing conversion but how often do I do conversions I think never unless it is in a class

what? why do you think 12oz is the "right" size for a soda?? why not 300ml or 350 ml?

because then you need a number that is 3 digits instead of 2 to discribe something that is the same size. Same with length if I want to say my walls are 8ft tall what would that be in metric 230 some odd centimeters again an extra 2 digits for two more digits I gain a half inch or .5% of the total length in presion.

wow way to compare two similar mesuring lengths. If i say my walls are 4 meters high, that would be around 140 inchs. Wow that an extra 2 digits!

Thats the point there is no equal to feet in the metric system. Sure you could make your walls 140 inchs but you wouldn't you would make them 11 or 12 feet.

 

[bandana163]

Metric system is way better IMO, more clear, easier to use, more detailed. Everything has a scale of 1-10-100-1000, 0.1-0.01-0.001 and so on. Prefixes like -kilo, -centi, -milli, -mega, -giga, -tera are universal and can be found in computer sciences, too. Try researching into quantum physics using ounces, stones, and such weird quantities. It's also harder to explain 1.796 inches than 1.796 centimetres. The metic scale is simple, easy to use. Metric system is very good for everyday use. At least this is what I see in Europe.

Edit: Farenheit looks totally out of place to me. 1Farenheit = 5/9*C+33
Water boils at 100C, freezes at 0C. It's simple.
Kelvin is another way, 1C=273K, plus, there are no negative quantities. Lowest temperature in the known world = 0K.

 

[Imdmn04]

the metric system should be implemented slowly in the U.S., like over the period of 20 years. U need to put both metric and english units on labels for that period of time for people to get used to. if you switched to metric overnight, you be suprised of the number of people that doesnt know how long a meter is, and how many KM in a mile. For things that traditionally use the english system like football, keep it that way. because a 20 meter touch down pass just sounds too weird.

 

[Kipper]

I'm sorry, but I still to this day have no idea how many quarts are in a gallon, how many ounces are in a pound, or exactly how many feet are in a mile.

Metric is simply so much easier to handle...

 

[NeoPTLD]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Speaking of precision, I noticed that metric threads are a lot sloppier than SAE. Why is that? The lug nuts, among other things on my car, are still SAE. Also, notice that our metric sockets are still driven by 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" socket wrenches.

We had the big push to metric back when I was in Jr high, about 1970. They said we would soon be switched over...

There are some sockets in your metric and standard combo ratchet set that are identical to each other in size, but one has a metric # and the other has a standard #.

3/8"=9.525mm, there is no equivalent, simply because 9.5mm metric socket isn't a commodity.
3/4"19.05=19mm

1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, 1" drives are called 6.35mm, 9.5mm, 12.7mm, 19.0mm and 25.4mm respectively in Japan and I'd assume other metric countries do the same.

 

[bandana163]

This is somewhat like languages. We'd need a universal system everyone undertsands.

 

[Sukhoi]

Try doing some real engineering problems and then tell me you like the U.S. Customary system.

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: Vaerilis
Metric system is way better IMO, more clear, easier to use, more detailed. Everything has a scale of 1-10-100-1000, 0.1-0.01-0.001 and so on. Prefixes like -kilo, -centi, -milli, -mega, -giga, -tera are universal and can be found in computer sciences, too. Try researching into quantum physics using ounces, stones, and such weird quantities. It's also harder to explain 1.796 inches than 1.796 centimetres. The metic scale is simple, easy to use. Metric system is very good for everyday use. At least this is what I see in Europe.

Edit: Farenheit looks totally out of place to me. 1Farenheit = 5/9*C+33
Water boils at 100C, freezes at 0C. It's simple.
Kelvin is another way, 1C=273K, plus, there are no negative quantities. Lowest temperature in the known world = 0K.

How often Do I care what temp water boils at? Those are nice feature of a system to use for doing math with but what is nice in the real world is having small numbers to work with, but not losing a small steping size.

 

[BigJelly]

Originally posted by: Hector13

Originally posted by: Spencer278
The metric system sucks for measuring most things because it is handicapped by the base 10 stuff where the english system just makes up units that are a conventant length. Like the soda can 12 oz or 355 ml who cares the precision of there soda to 3 siginifiacant figures anyway. The biggest flaw in the metric system is it requires larger number before the unit compared to the english system. Sure the metric system is useful when doing conversion but how often do I do conversions I think never unless it is in a class

what? why do you think 12oz is the "right" size for a soda?? why not 300ml or 350 ml?

because if you know the origins of the definition of an ounce (volume), you would know it is equivilant to two a gulps (a human gulp). Thus 12 oz soda = 24 gulps. So the basis for the ounce is based off of the human drinking process--hence an ounce is the best measurement.

Take that everyone that uses the metic system.

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: MadCowDisease
I'm sorry, but I still to this day have no idea how many quarts are in a gallon, how many ounces are in a pound, or exactly how many feet are in a mile.

Metric is simply so much easier to handle...

When was the last time you asked your self how many quarts of gas your car can hold. I know I would ask how much is it going to cost to fill up my car with gas lets say about 10 gallons now I bet I could come up with the cost to fill it up given a price per gallon then you could if you assumed you need about 40 L and give a price per L.

 

[bandana163]

Originally posted by: BigJelly

Originally posted by: Hector13

Originally posted by: Spencer278
The metric system sucks for measuring most things because it is handicapped by the base 10 stuff where the english system just makes up units that are a conventant length. Like the soda can 12 oz or 355 ml who cares the precision of there soda to 3 siginifiacant figures anyway. The biggest flaw in the metric system is it requires larger number before the unit compared to the english system. Sure the metric system is useful when doing conversion but how often do I do conversions I think never unless it is in a class

what? why do you think 12oz is the "right" size for a soda?? why not 300ml or 350 ml?

because if you know the origins of the definition of an ounce (volume), you would know it is equivilant to half a gulb (a human gulp). Thus 12 oz soda = 24 gulps. So the basis for the ounce is based off of the human drinking process--hence ounce is the best measurement.

Take that everyone that uses the metic system.

:cookie;

 

[BigJelly]

Originally posted by: Spencer278

Originally posted by: MadCowDisease
I'm sorry, but I still to this day have no idea how many quarts are in a gallon, how many ounces are in a pound, or exactly how many feet are in a mile.

Metric is simply so much easier to handle...

When was the last time you asked your self how many quarts of gas your car can hold. I know I would ask how much is it going to cost to fill up my car with gas lets say about 10 gallons now I bet I could come up with the cost to fill it up given a price per gallon then you could if you assumed you need about 40 L and give a price per L.

owned

and futher ownedment we probably pay less per gallon than you guys do per liter

 

[bandana163]

Originally posted by: Spencer278

Originally posted by: MadCowDisease
I'm sorry, but I still to this day have no idea how many quarts are in a gallon, how many ounces are in a pound, or exactly how many feet are in a mile.

Metric is simply so much easier to handle...

When was the last time you asked your self how many quarts of gas your car can hold. I know I would ask how much is it going to cost to fill up my car with gas lets say about 10 gallons now I bet I could come up with the cost to fill it up given a price per gallon then you could if you assumed you need about 40 L and give a price per L.

That's easy: Octane 98 costs approx. 1$/l here. 40l = 40$
What a pity we don't use dollar as our currency. And we don't earn enough. And fuel costs so much.
240HUF/l - 960HUF/4l - 9600HUF/40l

Edit: our gas prices are the highest in the area!