this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2023
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I was taught both.
Just like I was taught both metric and imperial.
I use both temp scales, though fahrenheit is more common.
I use both measurements scales, though imperial is more common.
One thing I've never understood though. Metric is more precise for measurements (at least without needing to involve fractional measures). I totally get why it's superior for a lot of things, and indeed it is used in many places for this exact reason.
Why would anyone say Celsius is better? Apart from freezing and boiling temps seeming somewhat arbitrary with fahrenheit, does it not allow for much higher precision with regards to temperature identification without resorting to decimals? Isn't this the same rationale used with metric vs imperial? It seems like a double standard to me, because remembering two temperatures (for boiling and freezing) seems like a small price to pay for a more precise system.
I pointed something similar with regard to thermometers to a group of European tourists. In Farenheidt, 98.6 is the normal temperature and if you are getting sick, people will say that 99 is a low-grade fever. While that is a. 4 degree difference in F, that's only a .2 difference in C.
Likewise for weather, F is much more precise and easier to communicate given that there is a smaller interval between units. There's more than 2 units difference in F for every 1 unit difference in C. That's huge when you're talking about the difference between 38 and 39 C
It may astonish you to learn that it's very easy to work in fractional degrees Celsius and it's done commonly.
Lol, you have to use fractional measures because each degree is further apart. I thought I had made that point. Sure you won't ever get rid of all fractional measuring in any system, but it's much easier if you don't have to use as much