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All small measurements in the US are done in power-of-two fractions of an inch. In fact, much of the initial opposition to the metric system here was led by the
by amyjess 6y ago
All small measurements in the US are done in power-of-two fractions of an inch. In fact, much of the initial opposition to the metric system here was led by the construction industry, who has found from experience that 1/2" 1/4" 1/8" 1/16" etc. measurements are too convenient to ever give up.
- skrause 6y agoHow this that convenient when you then have to use something like 13/16? Just look at the standard wrench sizes (https://www.cnm.edu/programs-of-study/programs-a-z/automotive-technology/tool-list https://www.cnm.edu/programs-of-study/programs-a-z/automotiv...): * Standard Combination Wrenches: 1/4, 5/16, 11/32, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16, 1. * Metric Combination Wrenches: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Measured in millimeters.
- VyperCard 6y agoThanks for this illustration.
- mikecoles 6y agoPerfectly convenient. The standard system excels when doing actual work. If you have a rod with 1" diameter and you need to take it down to 13/16", you can use a lathe to make 3/32" cut. Or if you need to divide up 13/16 into 4 parts, for example, 13/64. The metric system's strength is teaching in elementary schools where skills with fractions are not as strong.
- SAI_Peregrinus 6y agoNot exactly. Things are done in decimal fractions until you get down to around 1/64", but any farther and they're done in thou (1/1000" aka mils) or tenths (1/10000"). There's overlap, machinists will use thou up to and sometimes beyond a full inch.