Metric and "Imperial" systems are widely used.

The last government tried to enforce - with help of a EU directive - the use of only metric weights and measures. Many people refused to comply and I think someone (a market trader?) went to prison for it, or nearly went to prison for it... totally daft.

Both systems are equally valid but you just have to remember what you are talking about. For example getting a bit of 2" by 1" wood out the back of your van will probably mean you've got a bit of 50mm by 25mm - well it was before it was planed smooth to about 46 by 20mm... All goes well until you want to land something on Mars - so I've heard!

Also when talking to you chaps from the US of A we also have to remember that your gallons are smaller then ours so mpg (US) is not the same as mpg (GB).

As an ex-aircraft mechanic I'm quite used to working with both US measures as well as metric. We would quite happily shift to inches for tolerances as they have better round numbers - but go back to meters or centimeters for longer lengths.

The best thing about "Imperial" measures though are the use of fractions. This sort of useful mental arithmetic is totally lost with the metric system.

do they teach both standards in school too?

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

Yeah, it's called Maths(sssss)

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With best regards

Al

a few years back i got me one of them educations. i learned the three "R's".

Readin
Ritin
Rithmitic

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

I'm not sure what they do now - but they did when I went through 24 years ago.

I am 46 years old so use both,but it only ends up metric when going say under 1/2 an inch as all those old world sizes confuse me and I find millimetres easier.