That did you get taught? Metric or Imperial

[Stu :)]

After seeing some of the postings in my Quest for a 50mm thread, I thought heres an interesting poll.

Did you learn the Metric system (meters, kilograms, etc) or the Imperial system (feet, pounds, etc), or even both!

I got taught both. Although New Zealand has been metric since the 1960s, my parents and grandfather both used the Imperial system and before I started school I had good understanding of it all. However at school I got taught Metric, but it wasn't until my second year in high school that I learnt in maths how to do the conversion between the two, then the penny dropped and the light switched on.

Stu

 

[oftheherd]

I was taught American (Imperial, or English as we sometimes call it. ) until like you I was in high school and the science teacher introduced us to metric. I never did care much for it. I have learned to use it with cameras (distance marked in meters or focal length in mm) and wrenches for cars. Still I usually try to buy measuring devices marked in both.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I grew up in metric. I think in meters, kilometers and gallons and liters. Oddly enough, for weight we still use a 454 gram pound. Apparently the European pound is 10 grams heavier, and for a while there was a 22 oz. pound in England, otherwise known as "long pound" and used to measure cheese.

I'm reading Simon Winchester's book "The Map that Changed the World," full of interesting trivia about the history of science...

 

[GeneW]

Grew up in the States and learned US weights & measures. Then moved to Canada, where I discovered that a quart = 40 oz, making a quart of beer larger than a European litre of beer and way larger than an American quart of beer. This was good.

Then we changed to metric. For my son, no problem -- he grew up in metric. I'm still struggling...

Gene

 

[Rich Silfver]

Grew up with metrics. Still not sure how much a quart is.

 

[back alley]

gene,

whereabouts in the states are you from originally?
i hail from n.y.c. before i moved to alberta.

btw - i really enjoyed your website, and plan to go back for more.

joe

 

[Doug]

Gasoline in Canada used to be sold in Imperial Gallons, which were larger than US Gallons. So I don't think of US measures as "Imperial". There are other measures used in England like Hundredweight that are rare in the US. And Whitworth sizes for threaded fasteners. It can be very odd and confusing!

But, ironically, now in the digital age we are seeing more sense in measures that increase and decrease by powers of two which are digital "magic numbers". 16 ounces, 32 oz, 64 oz, 128 oz, for example, and inch divisions in 32nds, quarters, etc.

I think were getting away from rangefinder discussions, so I won't raise any metric oddities like milliliters vs cubic centimeters. ;-)

 

[lars]

I started school learning Imperial and switched to metric before highschool (can't remember exactly when...sometime in the '70's) -- I'm in Canada.

Here's how I think:
Long distances in miles or km although I'm leaning more towards km these days. I use my GPS in metric mode, although I prefer the altitude to be in feet. Distances less than a km are gauged in metres or yards (about the same, anyway). Shorter distances are gauged in feet and inches. Construction projects and Jeep projects (bumpers, drivetrain, etc) are all measured in inches and feet. When grocery shopping, I think in kg, even though virtually all other weights I think of in Imperial.

Time...I still use the 12 hour format, not that fancy metric time stuff.

I'm reading Simon Winchester's book "The Map that Changed the World," full of interesting trivia about the history of science...

Great book. I also recommend The Madman and the Professor. Right now I'm looking for Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded.

...lars

 

[wierdcollector]

We learned Imperial in school, and lucky me, Canada went metric the year I graduated high school. I can function in either system but still convert most everything back to Imperial.

 

[Maccabi92]

Wow. At least three of us started in the USA and moved to Canada. I started in Rochester, moved to T.O., and ended up back in Rochester after 12 years in Canada.

 

[GeneW]

gene,

whereabouts in the states are you from originally?
i hail from n.y.c. before i moved to alberta.

btw - i really enjoyed your website, and plan to go back for more.

joe

Joe, I moved around a bit when I was young. Born in California, lived in Minnesota, Illinois and Arizona before moving to Canada in 1971. Would you believe I've never been to NYC? I'd love to visit.

Thanks for the kind words about my website!

Gene

 

[fcg]

grew up with us/english system.
learned some metric; and use it where its fitting-for example
when matting and framing small works the metrics are easy to remember.
in the darkroom its sometimes oz and sometimes liters- depends on what im mixing and whats in the directionsand looks clear.
and thats it.
for focus its either as needed.
in the car its metric wrenches and tools- but miles per hr; not kph.
fcg

 

[jdos2]

(roots around basement- Ah! Here they are, my "English" tools, for my old Sprite. Yeach! Bloody wrenches are good for scrap these day.)

 

[Peter]

I was taught Metric in school and have never dealt with Imperial system before till I went to Nursing College and got confused with the order "1 pint of Normal Saline". I need a converter programme on my computer to help me to navigate the different systems that I encounter from time to time.

 

[Doug]

Some of the basics aren't too hard, Peter... For instance a US Quart is very nearly the same as a Liter. A Pint is half a Quart. A Gallon is 4 Quarts.