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Why still using the imperial system? (abananaforscale.com)

submitted 1 year ago by Zerush@lemmy.ml to c/memes@lemmy.ml

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[–] Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Nothing against metric, but base-10 is a complete train wreck of a numbering system. Mathematics in general, and geometry in particular, are gorgeous and elegant in base 12.

[–] Midnitte@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

Are you even a mathematician if you don't calculate using the sexagesimal system?

[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Maybe, but imperial not even this, using absolute random units.

[–] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Do you people legit believe people used feet&inches, pounds&ounces for over 2000 years for no reason?

[–] Jesus_666@feddit.de 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

And also ells, rods, cubits, paces, furlongs, oxgangs, lots, batmans... all with subtly different regional definitions (with regions sometimes as small as one village).

People used loosely defined measurements based on things like their own body parts or how much land they guessed their ox could plow on an average day. Things like mathematical convenience or precision were not all that important; being able to measure (or estimate) without tools was.