Originally Posted By: VideoTrack
Just learn and remember the fractions

3.2mm = 1/8th inch (approx)

6.4mm = 1/4 inch (approx)

12.7mm = 1/2 inch

25.4mm = 1 inch (exactly)

That's how I do it. But I also know both systems intimately so rarely need to think about "how much would that be..."


Yes, I under the concept. I find fractions pretty useless to begin with unless we are talking about very approximant measurements. A half a pie, half crazy. They have more relevance in machining, 1/2 inch but I prefer .500

The speed signs here are in MPH. The speedometer is designed to be read in MPH and yes there are some small numbers in kilometers.

I can think in miles, nautical miles, and kilometers. I have my GPS in my car set to display in kilometers because 700 meters is easier to understand than .435 miles or 87/200 and of course that would be displayed as 1/2 miles but in fact the GPS would never display that distance of 700 meters in miles to begin with.

I know visually what 13MM looks like, more or less the same as 1/2 inch. I know what 300 meters looks like, about from my house to the end of the street.

Part of my frustration is most likely related to constantly having to speak and listen in both English and Spanish and really never knowing when I must use one or the other.

I program my GPS to speak to me in French just to keep the language in my head and because I get tired of both English and Spanish...lol

I also am pretty conversant in both systems. Where it becomes problematic is when precision is needed. That requires precise conversion.

I cook in conventional USA terms...1/2 cup, two teaspoons ect. How much less trouble to have learned that in grams and milliliters.

I will vote for the metric system every time.

Billy

“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”