Dear John and All,
on 2002/02/12 16.26, kilopascal at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
<snip>
> I've heard it said that use of fractions or decimals in FFU engineering that
> are sub-multiples of 1/2, are called LEGAL FRACTIONS. Fractions outside of
> this sequence are illegal. In other words, only legal fractions may be
> used, and illegal fractions and their decimal equivalents are to be avoided.
> Thus 0.50 is legal, 0.49 or 0.51 is illegal. However, 0.31 is also legal,
> as it is still considered 5/16. 3/8 can still be legally written as either
> 0.37 or 0.38, depending on the situation. But, 0.39 is illegal.
>
> The use of the term legal, is kind of a policing action to keep one from
> drifting away from the "binary" fractions when using decimals. To me, this
> limits the usefulness of inches and identifies the engineer who restricts
> him/herself to binary fractions as being innumerate and subject to ridicule.
It's curious how a term form one discipline � in this case law � can be
transferred to another discipline � in this case engineering, where it
assumes a completely new meaning that has little to do with its original.
Instead it is used simply as jargon.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
CAMS - Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist
- United States Metric Association
ASM - Accredited Speaking Member
- National Speakers Association of Australia
Member, International Federation for Professional Speakers
--
