Comments on: Pounds and ounces baffle top students

by: Tabitha Jones

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:04:27 +0000

Peter K has a question for me. Let me begin.

A furlong is equal to 660 feet. The furlong is still used regularly in horse racing along with the mile. The furlong is also equal to an eighth of a mile, or 5280 feet. Therefore 14 furlongs is 9240 feet. The area of the rectangle is 46200 sq. ft. Or 6652800 sq. in. Or 1.06 acres. Or 4733.33 sq. yards. Or 156.47 sq. rods/poles.
Is that good enough for you, Peter? I have given quite a few units.

Editor’s note: These prodigious calculations are a good illustration of how unwieldy imperial units are - and how unsuitable they are for the modern world. However, the discussion has strayed far from the subject matter of the original article, which was that even the best educated young people have limited ability to calculate in imperial units. As the topic has been given a good airing, the discussion is now at an end.

by: Robin Paice

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 09:32:04 +0000

In response to Tabitha’s question, actually, the correct answer would be 7 (not 70) square decametres - or. more sensibly, 700 square metres. In reality, although hectometres and decametres are theoretically within SI, they are not recommended for general use. This is an example of an imperialist trying (unsuccessfully) to ridicule the metric system by using an unrealistic example. In practical terms the example is simply 0.5 m by 1400 m, and the answer is obvious. How would you calculate the equivalent distances and area using imperial measures?

by: Peter K

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 09:29:49 +0000

Tabitha wrote : ‘What is the area of a rectangle of sides 5 decimetres by 14 hectometres in decametres?’

Leaving aside the fact that you probably meant square decametres, the sum is still a lot easier than its imperial equivalent. Try finding the area of a rectangle of sides 5 feet by 14 furlongs. Choose any units you like for the answer.

by: Dave Brown

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 08:57:53 +0000

It’s interesting that Joe Oakley prefers words of one sylable. That expression is normally a term of contempt - “do you want me to explain that in words of one sylable?”. When defending the imperial system suddenly words of one sylable become virtuous. Perhaps that should not surprise anyone!

by: Alex Bailey

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 08:39:26 +0000

Tabitha,

I think that “5×14=70″ is a lot easier to have to deal with than your earlier “16+16+(0.5*16)=40″… and in the metric case I don’t have to remember that there are 16 oz in a lb. Nor do I have to remember how many feet or yards in a mile or how many pints or quarts in a gallon because in metric I only have to thing about 10’s, 1000’s etc.

Most metric calculations I can do in my head… I only need paper or calculator when it comes to imperial, that’s assuming I can remember how many imperial things there are in an imperial wotzit!

Here’s one for you. Drive your car down the road until you see a sign that says “xxx yards”. Look at your speedo and tell me how to link the 10ths of a mile on your odometer to what it says on the sign.

by: Tabitha Jones

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:09:41 +0000

Here’s a nice easy metric question: ‘What is the area of a rectangle of sides 5 decimetres by 14 hectometres in decametres?’
I think the answer is 70 dam.
Is that easier than the pounds and ounces question? Can you do my puzzle in your head? Or do you need paper, like me?!

by: Robert

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 17:13:21 +0000

I’m in my 30’s and had no idea what the answer would be. It’s no surprise that Uni students don’t know the answer either.

by: Joe Oakley

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:22:16 +0000

My wife always uses imperial when cooking and it has never gone wrong for her.
I think an important reason for the continuation of the imperial system is that the units are very easy to say. Compare an inch and a centimetre. One has 1 syllable, the other 4. If people are in full conversation, getting out a word like centimetre is far less convenient than the inch. This is a major problem that must be overcome if people like Tabitha Jones are to be convinced of switching. I’m sure Tabitha will mention this somewhere, let’s see what she has to say.

by: Daniel Jackson

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 12:10:14 +0000

David,

The questions on quiz shows are suppose to have a certain degree of difficulty. I’m sure the producers of the show know that imperial units are not that well known in the UK. Unit names may be spoken everyday but the feel for sizes or the relationships of one unit to another is not well understood.

Thus the producers knew that if they asked a question which might appear on the surface to be simple may in fact would be difficult because the knowledge is simply not there. Otherwise they would go broke giving out too many prizes.

by: Dave Brown

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:07:01 +0000

Going back to the original story for a moment…

I don’t watch this (or any other) quiz show, so I don’t know the format. Was this question asked as “general knowledge”, or was it a specialist round on the history of metrology? It strikes me as a little unfair, if not racist and age-ist to expect people from all backgrounds and cultures to have any knowledge of this subject. Surely in the UK, knowledge of imperial measures can only be assumed in middle-aged people who have lived in the UK all their lives. If it was a general knowledge round, I hope some viewers have complained to the programme makers.