One of the important roles played by the centimetre is in elementary education. Young children can use centimetre blocks to learns counting and measuring at the same time (the Montesouri method). Getting them to unlearn centimetres is a retrograde step - it is far better to introduce millimetres once they are ready for it and to teach them that some industries use millimetres and some centimetres (and that you should not mix them).
_____ From: owner-u...@colostate.edu [mailto:owner-u...@colostate.edu] On Behalf Of John Frewen-Lord Sent: 01 February 2010 07:47 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:46545] Re: "Go Metric" bumper sticker; centimeters I believe that the centimeter does have a place in everyday life. We need to think not just in linear terms, but in areas and volumes as well. Consider an area 400 mm x 200 mm. Area = 80 000 mm2 - not a practical number. Or else 0.4 m x 0.2 m - 0.08 m2. Equally impractical. But 40 cm x 20 cm = 800 cm2 - quite usable. Only when you start getting to much bigger areas do you need to think in terms of m2. With volumes, the numbers become even more impractical if something between the millimeter and the meter is not used. But consider this little scenario. 1 cm3 is equal to 1 mL. 1000 cm3 = 1 L. Which weighs (or has a mass of) 1 kg. Neat, and very practical for everyday use. I agree that industrial and construction sites should only use the millimeter. When I worked in the construction industry as a construction cost consultant, I only ever used mm. And that is how it should be in those industries. John F-L ----- Original Message ----- From: Harry Wyeth <mailto:hbwy...@earthlink.net> To: U.S. Metric <mailto:usma@colostate.edu> Association Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 3:45 AM Subject: [USMA:46543] "Go Metric" bumper sticker; centimeters It has been years since I have seen a "Go Metric" bumper sticker, but there was one on a silver Subaru with a ski rack driving downhill on I-80 in California today. Could it belong to one of our readers? Aren't these bumper stickers sold by the USMA? On centimeters: They are really useful for measuring ski lengths and bicycle tube lengths. No one refers to "1700 mm" skis or a "490 mm" seat tube on a bicycle. HARRY WYETH
