3 ms·

Any time the calculation is scaled up (or down), or involves numbers at different orders of magnitude. If we have 2mm of rain in Copenhagen this afternoon, and

Any time the calculation is scaled up (or down), or involves numbers at different orders of magnitude. If we have 2mm of rain in Copenhagen this afternoon, and my yard measures 8m×12m, how much water must drain away? 2mm × 8000mm × 12000mm = 192 000 000mm³ = 192 000cm³ = 192 dm³ = 192 L = 0.192 m³ How much rain falls on the whole city? 2mm × 180km² = 0.002 m × 180 000 000 m² = 360 000 m³ approx. = 360 000 tonnes.

jaclaz 5y ago
Parsing/reading error of the day: > my yard measures 8m You use a very long unit of measure.
bluGill 5y ago
Sure, but when do you need to do that? What about if it isn't water you are calculating but some other substance? You use a look up table to find the factors - we need to look up a but more in the table, but it isn't a big deal.
- simonlc 5y ago
  Are you serious, they literally just gave you an example lol. I always hear that argument about "but when will I need it?" If you're using this system then you're always going to use it. It comes up all the time, it's natural so you don't think about it too much. Does it mean it's better? Well yes, but it doesn't mean other measuring systems aren't good. You don't need it, but you'll want it once you learn it.
  - bluGill 5y ago
    He gave an example I've never needed in my life other than for trivia.
    - kelseyfrog 5y ago
      This is a good opportunity to employ steelmanning.
    - Symbiote 5y ago
      The first is a real example from a friend whose drains were blocked during some construction work, where rainfall from his garden was running into his basement during a storm. Would the water reach the electric cables? The second is obviously relevant for the people responsible for rivers, storm drains, sewers, dams, hydropower and so on. When we start terraforming Venus, we'll need to add the conversion factor for sulphuric acid rain.
    - thrashh 5y ago
      Maybe you don’t build very much stuff?

jaclaz 5y ago

Parsing/reading error of the day: > my yard measures 8m You use a very long unit of measure.

bluGill 5y ago

Sure, but when do you need to do that? What about if it isn't water you are calculating but some other substance? You use a look up table to find the factors - we need to look up a but more in the table, but it isn't a big deal.

simonlc 5y ago
Are you serious, they literally just gave you an example lol. I always hear that argument about "but when will I need it?" If you're using this system then you're always going to use it. It comes up all the time, it's natural so you don't think about it too much. Does it mean it's better? Well yes, but it doesn't mean other measuring systems aren't good. You don't need it, but you'll want it once you learn it.
- bluGill 5y ago
  He gave an example I've never needed in my life other than for trivia.
  - kelseyfrog 5y ago
    This is a good opportunity to employ steelmanning.
  - Symbiote 5y ago
    The first is a real example from a friend whose drains were blocked during some construction work, where rainfall from his garden was running into his basement during a storm. Would the water reach the electric cables? The second is obviously relevant for the people responsible for rivers, storm drains, sewers, dams, hydropower and so on. When we start terraforming Venus, we'll need to add the conversion factor for sulphuric acid rain.
  - thrashh 5y ago
    Maybe you don’t build very much stuff?