Metric vs Imperial: The Ultimate Showdown
The world is divided into two teams: Team Metric and Team Imperial.
Team Metric
- Used by: 95% of the world.
- Base: Powers of 10.
- Pros: Extremely easy to convert. 1000m = 1km. 100cm = 1m. Water freezes at 0° and boils at 100°.
- Cons: None, really (according to scientists).
Team Imperial
- Used by: USA, Liberia, Myanmar.
- Base: Arbitrary historical standards.
- Pros: "Feet" and "Inches" are very human-relatable sizes. 0°F is "really cold" and 100°F is "really hot."
- Cons: Math is hard. 12 inches in a foot? 5280 feet in a mile? Why?
How to Survive in Both Worlds
Unless you plan to stay in one country forever, you will encounter both.
- Cooking: Reviewing a recipe from a UK site? You need to convert grams to cups/ounces.
- Driving: Driving into Canada from the US? Speed limits switch from mph to km/h.
- Height: Chatting online? Europeans will say "180cm", Americans will say "5'11".
Don't memorize the math. Use a tool that handles it for you.