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Take 5 minutes to read this comparison before voting. https://www.metric4us.com/why.html (archive: https://archive.md/vVCI3)

Take 5 minutes to read this comparison before voting.

https://www.metric4us.com/why.html

(archive: https://archive.md/vVCI3)

Metric
Imperial

(post is archived)

[–] 0 pt

no, imperial is a system of absolute units, just as metric is a system of absolute units, each is divisible into different values

proportions are ratios of absolute units, like a map, 1inch per mile, 20 miles per gallon

Imperial is based on the Sumerian number system, base 12, which is also used to measure angles. The easiest way to divide a circle is by using whole proportions.

that makes no sense?

Look at the specifications for toe on your car, you'll notice a quarter degree of toe in or out relative to vertical is roughly one quarter of an inch of toe.

Take a unit circle with radius 1ft, the circumference is roughly 36 inches. 37.6 to be exact. If you need quick and dirty estimates, imperial is king.

[–] 0 pt

take a unit circle with radius 1ft, the circumference is roughly 36 inches

nope

c=2 pi r c=2 x 3.142 x 12 c=75.4"

[–] 0 pt

You did the math wrong. You get the right number if you divide by 2. In other words half your proportion.

[–] 0 pt (edited )

You did the math wrong. You get the right number if you divide by 2. In other words half your proportion

no, that's the formula for the circumference of a circle, c=2 pi r and 75.4" isn't a proportion, it's an absolute value

Imperial is based on the Sumerian number system, base 12, which is also used to measure angles. The easiest way to divide a circle is by using whole proportions.

the 360 bit came from the Babylonians who used base60, but like you said, it's a good composite number with lots of factors. But really this came from the properties of a circle and the constant pi, because 360 degrees is the same as 2.pi radians

But roofers spec everything in degrees, so other than pizza I'm not sure of the point of dissecting a circle into equal proportions? Radians is more useful for calculus