When science was taught in schools before metrication took place, were S.I. measurements such as cm^3 still used? All formulae in science now involves S.I. units (e.g. kilograms, grams, cm^3, etc). Were formulae different pre-metrication?

I am unable to answer; I do not know. Perhaps someone else knows?

My presumption is that metric was predominantly used in science, even prior to politics getting invloved.

Today science is entirely metric (save for the converstions in the classroom that have nothing to do with what's being taught). Imperial is only taught in maths.

I was taught cgs at school in South Africa (1961-4)

My last message was poated at 08:40 (BST)/ 07:70 (GMT).

Why was the time given as 01:39?

typo - 7:70 should have read 7:40

In my college's library, there are scientific journals and magazines dating back to the early 1900s. Most calculations seem to be in metric, although imperial is sometimes mentioned in the text. (pretty much the same as American science books today)

It's my understanding that metric measurements have dominated science for the last couple of hundreds years although some areas of science use their own non-metric units. Examples of science-specific non-metric units include dynes, calories and electronvolts.

Most scientific and mechanical formulae have been keyed to metric measurements because it is much easier to insert metric units into a large physics or maths formula and then tap the whole thing into a computer and less error-prone than if formulae had to be adjusted for imperial measures. Since calculators operate with the decimal system metric measurements (primarily metres, kilograms and Newtons) simply compute more easily.

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Since calculators operate with the decimal system metric measurements (primarily metres, kilograms and Newtons) simply compute more easily.
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Therefore, a strong argument for the use of the metric system in everyday life.

Well I'm Convinced!

(ROTFL)

re: "decimal calculators are a strong argument for the use of the metric system in everyday life"


Exam question.


The following phrases were heard spoken by English people during the past month. How should they be said in the metric system? (2.5 marks each) [you may not use your calculator on this paper]

"Beattie was a yard-and-a-half faster than the defender there" (Radio 5 Live)

"The Coronation Street set was seven eighths real size so it made the people on the set seem larger than life" (The Message, Radio 4)

"I'm quarter of an hour late already" (BBC Radio play)

"That's half the battle, son" (TV Soap)

"Two thirds of voters agree with the BNP's policies on immigration" (Opinion Poll report in the 'Daily Mail')

"It's about three quarters of a mile that way" (TV play)

WHile it is true that halves and quarters are used a lot in every day speech (and even in engineering, economics etc), eights are used less, sixteenths even less and thrity-seconds hardly ever.

Some years ago it was common in the financial industry for halves and quarters to be used in pricing. Many computer systesm were written that could accomodate fractions up to sixteenths, but there was no common interface, so when large banks had ot interface their computers ot the finalncial exchange computers, problems started arising.

I believe that now all major exchanges have dropped fractionalk prices in favour of decimal prices with that bastion of free entrerprise and individualism, the Chicago Board of Trade being the last.

I have checked the UNICODE character set. It has support for the following fractions:
1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8. 3/4, 7/8, 1/3 and 2/3, but no others. Thus, for automatic information interchange, using fractions represents a real barrier, except for very simple cases.

Thise who wish to know more about UNICODE shudl refer to www.unicode.org. AN increasing number of ciomputer ssystems are using UNICODE as a replacement for ASCII. If, for example, you sewe a Euro symbol between the brackets, your computer is eithe rusing UNICODE or a short-term substitute:

The Euro symbol should appears between these angle brackets: <€>

PS - I double-checked the UNICODE charts. Before anybody says that I am mis-informed, the following characters are also available:
1/5, 2/5, 3/5, 4/5, 1/6, 5/6


BTW, if you are running Windows 2000, you can see the characters that are available to you by follwoing the menu sequnce:

Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Character Maps.

When displaying the various characters, the UNICODE value will appear at the bottom of the window.

"Beattie was a yard-and-a-half faster than the defender there" (Radio 5 Live)

That's a bit silly really, isn't it?

"The Coronation Street set was seven eighths real size so it made the people on the set seem larger than life" (The Message, Radio 4)

87.5% real size. I actually understand this a lot better.

"I'm quarter of an hour late already" (BBC Radio play)

15 minutes, but it doesn't really matter.

"That's half the battle, son" (TV Soap)

"Two thirds of voters agree with the BNP's policies on immigration" (Opinion Poll report in the 'Daily Mail')

Common proportions, not really a problem.

"It's about three quarters of a mile that way" (TV play)"

1.2km, a bit of education could solve this one.

Woops, sorry I infringed the rubric!

This is all a bit silly really as fractions are taught at school at every level.

I was astonishingly bad at them.

BTW: I only recently realised how easy the 12 times table is!

Funy thing is- probably due to metrication and our education system- many young kids do not get fractions or even realise the simplicity of the 12 times table. I mean, the twelves are one of the easiest and fractions are easy... just remember that if the denominator and numerator match (eg 4/4) then what is also meant is "1". So many pewople just do not get it now.... :(

When I was at school (not so long ago, really), the following was true:


CGS used in science (not SI etc, but SI etc at higher level)

Metric and english in maths (though no conversion tween units.. for instance, pints to gallons, or mil to litres, but litres to galons)



Can I once more note my system that is COMPLETELY compatible with English (mass unit = 0.5lb, length unit = 2', time unit = 0.25secs)- it completely rivals the 1cc =1g =1ml system.