Various lengths have been derived from body dimensions hands feet spans cubits and the like. Standard units ensure consistent equal measuring 3.
Measuring Lengths Cm M Video Khan Academy
What is the problem with using parts of the body as a unit of measurement. So my palms quickly gave a nice measurement. This is a list of units of measure based on human body parts or the attributes or abilities of humans. Many have similar size for example hand and palm so you can just choose ones you prefer perhaps ones with numbers easier to remember. Why were customary or standard units established. The width of your palm is about 4 inches. How does si address the problem of using body parts as a unit of measurement.
Another measurement that i use is an inch made by bending my ring finger into a tabletop shape. These units are thus considered to be human scale and anthropocentric. The si units system simply uses the meter and units derived from that kilometer nanometer etc. Yes your body and its various parts can serve as a quick length estimator. What is the problem with using parts of the body as a unit of measurement. Many real life math problems dont require exact solutions or precise calculations.
Related to the last point the french word for inch is pouce which also. What an interesting post. Very easily by not using them. What is the problem with using parts of the body as a unit of measurement. Feet are not equal 2. What is the advantage of metric units.
Women dont have hoo hoo dillies so they cant measure things using one. Although we might think there is an inescapable logic in dividing it in a systematic manner this ignores the way that measuring grew up with people measuring shorter lengths using other parts of the human body. The sizes of different peopleõs body parts ie. My hoo hoo dilly is bigger than yours and we dont have a standard hoo hoo dilly size. Many body distances can be used as measures but you dont need all of them. When you need an approximate idea of length you have a handy dandy ruler always nearby.
Calibrating yourself a first step is to choose your measures and measure your choices. It does not include derived units further unless they are also themselves human based. The digit was the smallest basic unit being the breadth of a finger. Devin johnston on january 21 2009 259 am. 10 responses to body parts as tools of measurement chris on january 21 2009 136 am.