Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

MathsIsFun · 2007-12-12 22:18:56

I worked with a lady called Christi Godard to make a fun intro to measurement. The results are:

Have a read, let me know any mistakes, or ideas for improvement.

I am also a little worried they are both too long ... do you think so?

Jai Ganesh · 2007-12-13 17:39:46

Both the pages are beautiful! The narration is interesting too! I think the conversions in table form should also be given, although that would make the pages more academic, nevertheless, not any less attractive. Similarly, at the end examples may be provided to explain. For temperatures, Kelvin may also be given, and the conversion formulas may also be added.
Since the pages have come out well, more pages for all the SI units and derived units in SI alongwith FPS systems and MKS systems can be added whenever time is available.

MathsIsFun · 2007-12-13 21:54:37

Thanks, g!

mathsyperson · 2007-12-14 04:27:15

Nice pages! A few things:

- As well as the terms you have, non-metric measurements can be called Imperial.
- Stone is another Imperial weight.
- I don't see these two images:

If you do then it's a problem on my end though.

- The metric page is flawless!

John E. Franklin · 2007-12-14 04:38:57

Very nice pages, I agree!!
I also can't see those 2 picts.
See misplaced period, search: ".Anything that"
Wow!! A long ton is close to a metric ton.
In US, not so.

MathsIsFun · 2007-12-14 09:46:40

Thanks, guys, I will attend to those.

(Images are actually missing)

"Ton" is a problem ... different people interpret it differently ... Short Ton (2,000) or Long Ton (2,240 lb). I may have to mention both, but I don't want to complicate the article

What do you think of it as?

Any suggestions?

John E. Franklin · 2007-12-16 17:31:35

Well in New England, 2000lbs is all most people know of I think.

luca-deltodesco · 2007-12-16 19:45:00

mathsyperson, the problem with calling it imperial, is the US measurements are not strictly imperial.

Imperial -> US
1 = 0.961 (fl.oz) (imperial is smaller)
1 = 1.201 (pint) (imperial is larger)
1 = 1.201 (liquid gallon US) = 1.032 (dry gallon US) (imperial has one gallon, and is larger than both dry and liquid US gallon)

etc.

and also, imperial units : a hundredweight = 112lb, in US 100lb. a ton is 2240lb, US = 2000lb

Also, perhaps you should list all imperial/US measurements. Things like furlongs and nautical miles, acres. And if you do a proper imperial page, stones for mass aswell. They aern't used in US, but in places like UK they are heavily used, and also please make a note on non US spellings (litre not liter, metre not meter etc. ;P)

Last edited by luca-deltodesco (2007-12-16 19:48:45)

MathsIsFun · 2007-12-17 00:14:02

Thanks, good advice.

I was thinking to tackle Imperial at a later date.

It seems like one can write forever on measurements!

mathsyperson · 2007-12-17 00:52:34

Ah, my mistake then. I didn't realise those two were different.

MathsIsFun · 2007-12-17 08:21:20

I am torn between providing information, and burdening kids with things to learn. Life is a lot simpler for kids in metric countries!

MathsIsFun · 2007-12-17 10:41:39

I have completely redone the Measurement Index, with individual pages for length, area, volume and mass for both Metric and US Standard.

luca-deltodesco · 2007-12-17 11:50:45

thats much better organised i think, but the US standard needs to have the 'english' bit removed in first description {

Jai Ganesh · 2007-12-17 17:41:01

Very interesting and useful pages!!!!! Well done, MathsIsFun!!!!!

MathsIsFun · 2007-12-17 23:20:20

Thanks.

By the way, at the bottom of each individual page such as US Standard Lengths I give examples. But some pages (US Standard Area and others) need more examples

Do you have any good examples of measurements? What common things are a square inch, a pint, weigh a pound, etc

John E. Franklin · 2008-01-11 09:31:26

a saltine (nabisco) is almost 2 inches square, or almost 4 square inches.
There are some smaller square cheese flavored snacks, but I don't have any.
An acre is almost 209 feet square, maybe 208.7 or ??
There are 640 acres in a square mile.
5280 / 209 is 25.3 square acres along edge of a square mile.
43560 square feet for acre?

Last edited by John E. Franklin (2008-01-11 09:35:09)

MathsIsFun · 2008-01-11 10:06:24

Thanks, John ... I will see about including those.

But don't understand "5280 / 209 is 25.3 square acres along edge of a square mile."

John E. Franklin · 2008-01-12 18:59:55

Oh, um, it's not in proper English. But 5280 ft is one side of a perfect square mile.
And (43560)^0.5 is ~208.7 ft for side of a perfectly square acre.
Now 25 times 25 is 625, which is close to 640 acres in a square mile.
So it turns out that if a grid is made with acres in a square mile, it is aproximately
25.3 squares in both x and y directions.
(5280 * 5280 / 43560 = 640 exactly!)
√640 = ~ 25.298
Oh my, guess what I just discovered!!
A strip 1 inch wide by 99 miles long is EXACTLY one acre!!!
Wow!! That's a nice ending after a fun time dancing tonight!

Math Is Fun Forum

#1 2007-12-12 22:18:56

Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#2 2007-12-13 17:39:46

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#3 2007-12-13 21:54:37

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#4 2007-12-14 04:27:15

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#5 2007-12-14 04:38:57

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#6 2007-12-14 09:46:40

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#7 2007-12-16 17:31:35

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#8 2007-12-16 19:45:00

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#9 2007-12-17 00:14:02

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#10 2007-12-17 00:52:34

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#11 2007-12-17 08:21:20

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#12 2007-12-17 10:41:39

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#13 2007-12-17 11:50:45

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#14 2007-12-17 17:41:01

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#15 2007-12-17 23:20:20

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#16 2008-01-11 09:31:26

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#17 2008-01-11 10:06:24

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

#18 2008-01-12 18:59:55

Re: Introduction to Metric, and US Standard Measures.

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