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From: BHBOTHWE@HELIX.uwaterloo.ca (Hugh Bothwell)
Subject: Re: Fog of War
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References: <znr801613897k@leotech.mv.com> <1995Jun6.101639.16751@hermes.bouw.tno.nl> <3r1p7j$p1b@cassandra.cair.du.edu> <1995Jun7.110136.2976@hermes.bouw.tno.nl> <3r4veo$hue@cassandra.cair.du.edu>
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 1995 00:20:40 GMT
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>In article <3r4veo$hue@cassandra.cair.du.edu>,
   ruhl@phoebe.cair.du.edu (Robert A. Uhl) wrote:

>  As a matter of fact, we _should_ get rid of the decimal system and
>replace it with a base=12 system.

Umm, either that or base 16; suppose it depends if you have to divide things 
by 3, eh?  But it would make life much simpler for programmers (who often 
think in hex anyway).  Every so often I see an interrupt listing where the 
writer uses decimal (ie, "int 16" for graphics interrupts.)

>  Only idiots and math incomptents have trouble with our system. The
>metric system is for those without memories. For those who cannot
>divide by 12, 3, 5280 &c.

I was lucky - went to a private school that was heavy on math; back in gr 6 I 
learned to do stuff like multiplication in base 7 (how's that for a useless 
number system? ;-)

On the other hand, IF we changed the number system and everyone started 
learning their multiplication tables up to B x B = A1 or F x F = E1 
(depending on how you look at it), the memorisation would be more than repaid 
- able to divide by 2, 3, 4, or 6 as simply as by 2 or 5 now, or be able to 
program a computer directly - no more stupid conversion between decimal and 
binary! - instead of needing inane rules for divisibility by three (if the sum 
of the digits is divisible by 3...)

>A centimeter is too small for everyday use. The inch, which is
>approx. 2.5 times as large, is more useful. The foot is an excellent
>length. It is incredibly useful. The yard, roughly equivalent to a
>meter, is as nice as the meter. The mile is roughly 1,000 paces. It is
>a useful distance. The furlong, or furrow-long, as it once was, is 1/8
>mi. and is useful for smaller than a mile distances. It is often used
>at racetracks.

Yes and no... for doing calculations, metric is handy not only because it fits 
with the decimal numbering system but also because all units are directly 
derived - you don't have to worry nearly as much about constants for switching 
units.

For everyday life, the Imperial system is far handier because the units all 
"make sense" to human beings.  But they have no direct relationship to one 
another, which is a royal pain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
           Hugh Bothwell  *  bhbothwe@helix.watstar.uwaterloo.ca

                     |                       1B Electrical Engineering
                     |                       University of Waterloo
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