Author: John Bemelmans Marciano
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 160819941X
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 418
Book Description
The intriguing tale of why the United States has never adopted the metric system, and what that says about us. The American standard system of measurement is a unique and odd thing to behold with its esoteric, inconsistent standards: twelve inches in a foot, three feet in a yard, sixteen ounces in a pound, one hundred pennies to the dollar. For something as elemental as counting and estimating the world around us, it seems like a confusing tool to use. So how did we end up with it? Most of the rest of the world is on the metric system, and for a time in the 1970s America appeared ready to make the switch. Yet it never happened, and the reasons for that get to the root of who we think we are, just as the measurements are woven into the ways we think. John Marciano chronicles the origins of measurement systems, the kaleidoscopic array of standards throughout Europe and the thirteen American colonies, the combination of intellect and circumstance that resulted in the metric system's creation in France in the wake of the French Revolution, and America's stubborn adherence to the hybrid United States Customary System ever since. As much as it is a tale of quarters and tenths, it is a human drama, replete with great inventors, visionary presidents, obsessive activists, and science-loving technocrats. Anyone who reads this inquisitive, engaging story will never read Robert Frost's line “miles to go before I sleep” or eat a foot-long sub again without wondering, Whatever happened to the metric system?
Whatever Happened to the Metric System?
Author: John Bemelmans Marciano
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 160819941X
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 418
Book Description
The intriguing tale of why the United States has never adopted the metric system, and what that says about us. The American standard system of measurement is a unique and odd thing to behold with its esoteric, inconsistent standards: twelve inches in a foot, three feet in a yard, sixteen ounces in a pound, one hundred pennies to the dollar. For something as elemental as counting and estimating the world around us, it seems like a confusing tool to use. So how did we end up with it? Most of the rest of the world is on the metric system, and for a time in the 1970s America appeared ready to make the switch. Yet it never happened, and the reasons for that get to the root of who we think we are, just as the measurements are woven into the ways we think. John Marciano chronicles the origins of measurement systems, the kaleidoscopic array of standards throughout Europe and the thirteen American colonies, the combination of intellect and circumstance that resulted in the metric system's creation in France in the wake of the French Revolution, and America's stubborn adherence to the hybrid United States Customary System ever since. As much as it is a tale of quarters and tenths, it is a human drama, replete with great inventors, visionary presidents, obsessive activists, and science-loving technocrats. Anyone who reads this inquisitive, engaging story will never read Robert Frost's line “miles to go before I sleep” or eat a foot-long sub again without wondering, Whatever happened to the metric system?
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 160819941X
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 418
Book Description
The intriguing tale of why the United States has never adopted the metric system, and what that says about us. The American standard system of measurement is a unique and odd thing to behold with its esoteric, inconsistent standards: twelve inches in a foot, three feet in a yard, sixteen ounces in a pound, one hundred pennies to the dollar. For something as elemental as counting and estimating the world around us, it seems like a confusing tool to use. So how did we end up with it? Most of the rest of the world is on the metric system, and for a time in the 1970s America appeared ready to make the switch. Yet it never happened, and the reasons for that get to the root of who we think we are, just as the measurements are woven into the ways we think. John Marciano chronicles the origins of measurement systems, the kaleidoscopic array of standards throughout Europe and the thirteen American colonies, the combination of intellect and circumstance that resulted in the metric system's creation in France in the wake of the French Revolution, and America's stubborn adherence to the hybrid United States Customary System ever since. As much as it is a tale of quarters and tenths, it is a human drama, replete with great inventors, visionary presidents, obsessive activists, and science-loving technocrats. Anyone who reads this inquisitive, engaging story will never read Robert Frost's line “miles to go before I sleep” or eat a foot-long sub again without wondering, Whatever happened to the metric system?
Metric in Minutes
Author: Dennis R. Brownridge
Publisher: Professional Publications Incorporated
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 120
Book Description
Covers everything you need to know about the metric system (système internationale, SI), from its history to practical tips on conversions and problem solving.
Publisher: Professional Publications Incorporated
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 120
Book Description
Covers everything you need to know about the metric system (système internationale, SI), from its history to practical tips on conversions and problem solving.
The Metric System Made Simple
Author: Albert F. Kempf
Publisher: Doubleday Books
ISBN: 9780385110327
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 150
Book Description
Explanations, definitions, exercises involving length, area, volume, and mass calculations, lists of conversion factors, and tables of equivalents help readers make a transition to the metric system
Publisher: Doubleday Books
ISBN: 9780385110327
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 150
Book Description
Explanations, definitions, exercises involving length, area, volume, and mass calculations, lists of conversion factors, and tables of equivalents help readers make a transition to the metric system
Metric Units in Engineering--going SI
Author: Cornelius Wandmacher
Publisher: Amer Society of Civil Engineers
ISBN: 9780784400708
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 319
Book Description
Wandmacher and Johnson provide guidance for practicing engineers, students, and educators who are adopting and using the International System of Units in their engineering work.
Publisher: Amer Society of Civil Engineers
ISBN: 9780784400708
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 319
Book Description
Wandmacher and Johnson provide guidance for practicing engineers, students, and educators who are adopting and using the International System of Units in their engineering work.
Fundamentals of Mathematics
Author: Denny Burzynski
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Fundamentals of Mathematics is a work text that covers the traditional study in a modern prealgebra course, as well as the topics of estimation, elementary analytic geometry, and introductory algebra. It is intended for students who: have had previous courses in prealgebra wish to meet the prerequisites of higher level courses such as elementary algebra need to review fundamental mathematical concenpts and techniques This text will help the student devlop the insight and intuition necessary to master arithmetic techniques and manipulative skills. It was written with the following main objectives: to provide the student with an understandable and usable source of information to provide the student with the maximum oppurtinity to see that arithmetic concepts and techniques are logically based to instill in the student the understanding and intuitive skills necessary to know how and when to use particular arithmetic concepts in subsequent material cources and nonclassroom situations to give the students the ability to correctly interpret arithmetically obtained results We have tried to meet these objects by presenting material dynamically much the way an instructure might present the material visually in a classroom. (See the development of the concept of addition and subtraction of fractions in section 5.3 for examples) Intuition and understanding are some of the keys to creative thinking, we belive that the material presented in this text will help students realize that mathematics is a creative subject.
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Fundamentals of Mathematics is a work text that covers the traditional study in a modern prealgebra course, as well as the topics of estimation, elementary analytic geometry, and introductory algebra. It is intended for students who: have had previous courses in prealgebra wish to meet the prerequisites of higher level courses such as elementary algebra need to review fundamental mathematical concenpts and techniques This text will help the student devlop the insight and intuition necessary to master arithmetic techniques and manipulative skills. It was written with the following main objectives: to provide the student with an understandable and usable source of information to provide the student with the maximum oppurtinity to see that arithmetic concepts and techniques are logically based to instill in the student the understanding and intuitive skills necessary to know how and when to use particular arithmetic concepts in subsequent material cources and nonclassroom situations to give the students the ability to correctly interpret arithmetically obtained results We have tried to meet these objects by presenting material dynamically much the way an instructure might present the material visually in a classroom. (See the development of the concept of addition and subtraction of fractions in section 5.3 for examples) Intuition and understanding are some of the keys to creative thinking, we belive that the material presented in this text will help students realize that mathematics is a creative subject.
Concepts of Biology
Author: Samantha Fowler
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781739015503
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Black & white print. Concepts of Biology is designed for the typical introductory biology course for nonmajors, covering standard scope and sequence requirements. The text includes interesting applications and conveys the major themes of biology, with content that is meaningful and easy to understand. The book is designed to demonstrate biology concepts and to promote scientific literacy.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781739015503
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Black & white print. Concepts of Biology is designed for the typical introductory biology course for nonmajors, covering standard scope and sequence requirements. The text includes interesting applications and conveys the major themes of biology, with content that is meaningful and easy to understand. The book is designed to demonstrate biology concepts and to promote scientific literacy.
Information on the Metric System and Related Fields
Author: Ernst Lange
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Metric system
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Metric system
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
The Metric System
Author: Alexander Graham Bell
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Metric system
Languages : en
Pages : 18
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Metric system
Languages : en
Pages : 18
Book Description
The Metric System
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Astronautics
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Metric system
Languages : en
Pages : 84
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Metric system
Languages : en
Pages : 84
Book Description
Conversion to the Metric System of Weights and Measures
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Technology. Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Technology
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Metric system
Languages : en
Pages : 936
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Metric system
Languages : en
Pages : 936
Book Description