KM vs Miles

[katiewlx]

There aren't any conversions less complicated than multiplying or dividing by 10, and in the metric system, other conversions have been kept to a minimum. It's not often that you're called upon to use conversions like Boltzmann's constant for example.

I often used Katies constant in my higher maths work, got a commendation once for using it and explaining why Id chosen it to the teacher as a solution to a problem

but so explain why multiplying or dividing by 10 is easier than 12 ? youve simply been taught its easier, yet theyre just numbers theres nothing intrinsically different between a 10 or a 12 as a number, base 10, base12, base 16 is no different really other than scalar, that makes it any harder or easier to calculate multiples or divide by it,its simply the pathways you create in memory to do it instantly.

When I was at school, which I know makes me sound terribly old and yes I did attend a school with desks that had inkwells...we were taught the times tables almost by rote to the point the teacher could randomly pick any two numbers from the multiplication tables between 1 and 12,and then pick on you and expect you to give an answer immediately, not calculate it using mental arithmetic, simply respond with the correct answer straight-away.

once you have those numeric pathways forged in your own memory map, dealing with imperial measurements is actually just as much a doddle as metric, and its why they used to teach you numeracy like you that, because you then dont think about the numbers or the complexity of why multiples of 12 are slightly bigger than 10, the answers are just formed automatically.

 

[Tenkaykev]

I think you can cycle alongside part of Salisbury race course. If you would like me to check it out it’s only 3 or 4 miles from my house.

That's very generous of you. It's still a couple of years away so I'll not tempt fate 😉

 

[Alex321]

When I was at school, which I know makes me sound terribly old and yes I did attend a school with desks that had inkwells...we were taught the times tables almost by rote to the point the teacher could randomly pick any two numbers from the multiplication tables between 1 and 12,and then pick on you and expect you to give an answer immediately, not calculate it using mental arithmetic, simply respond with the correct answer straight-away.

once you have those numeric pathways forged in your own memory map, dealing with imperial measurements is actually just as much a doddle as metric, and its why they used to teach you numeracy like you that, because you then dont think about the numbers or the complexity of why multiples of 12 are slightly bigger than 10, the answers are just formed automatically.

I also learned my times tables by rote, and can still automatically give you the answer for anything up to 12x12.
But that is part of the point - we needed to learn them by rote, they weren't automatic.

Because our general numbering system is base 10, everything involving decimal numbers for units is automatic, we only need to think about how many zeros are involved. The 10 times table is one you don't need to memorise by rote, because it is just add a zero to the number.

If we normally had 6 fingers per hand instead of five, our general numbering system would probably have been base 12 - and that would in fact have been a lot better for many things.

 

[YMFB]

That's very generous of you. It's still a couple of years away so I'll not tempt fate 😉

If I get chance I will ride round that way anyway as I think its part of the drove that runs from Harnham to near Shaftesbury. It’s a long time since I rode it so this is a good an excuse as any.

 

[Tenkaykev]

I also learned my times tables by rote, and can still automatically give you the answer for anything up to 12x12.
But that is part of the point - we needed to learn them by rote, they weren't automatic.

Because our general numbering system is base 10, everything involving decimal numbers for units is automatic, we only need to think about how many zeros are involved. The 10 times table is one you don't need to memorise by rote, because it is just add a zero to the number.

If we normally had 6 fingers per hand instead of five, our general numbering system would probably have been base 12 - and that would in fact have been a lot better for many things.

Son worked at one of the big London Casinos. There was a rigid training / selection program which involved aptitude with numbers which iirc involved times tables going way up past 12. There was also a set way to split various combinations of chips and various other procedures. He eventually became a supervisor, keeping an eye on various tables and dropping in when required.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Very early on in my career in 1983 I worked at a big credit card company and for various reasons I, a raw kid, ended up doing some work directly for the financial controller. He was an interesting old-school guy whose party trick was instantly calculating percentages of sums expressed in £Sd in his head. He must have been bereft when decimalisation rendered that skill useless.

He didn't trust these new fangled computers. I only gained his respect when he saw me soldering a cable. Soldering iron = proper skill.