Re: off topic Question of the day..
Dennis writes:
> BTW: one inch now equals 2.54 cm *exactly*, in case you haven't been
> keeping up! (Used to be approx 2.54 cm.) This is what I mean by
> arbitrary. Don't like the conversion ratio? Then just change it!
It wasn't a change in conversion ratio. It was change in definition.
Originally US length measures were defined by a physical standard
derived from the British yard such that the inch worked out to close to
2.54cm. In 1893 the inch was defined as 2.54cm and BIPM-supplied meter
and kilogram standards became the official US measurement standards. It
took until 1930 for the Brits to catch up.
--
John Hasler
jhasler@newsguy.com
Elmwood, WI USA
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