Yes and no. Imperial measurements that are not integers are displayed in fractions. Hence quarterpounders and thirpounders. In metrics, fractions are rarely used. Because the scales are more granular and because non-integers are usually displayed in decimals.
People thinking a third-pound-burger being smaller than a quarterpounder could not have happened with metrics, because, well, look at the title.
I’m from a country where we use metric and can’t think of anything that would normally be displayed as a fraction. Sure we know what half and third are, but they’re not used officially for anything
I would round it to 40ml. I have no idea how much 1/6th of a cup would be. Most of my cups are different sizes too so I wouldn’t know which on to trust. Also they are oddly shaped and not transparent making it a real challenge all and all.
A recipe with metric units will default to gram amounts that are divisible by ten and thus infinitely easier to halve than “5/8 of your grandmother’s good cake spoon” or any such folksy nonsense.
Despite common misconceptions, 0.999… is not “almost exactly 1” or “very, very nearly but not quite 1”; rather, “0.999…” and “1” represent exactly the same number.
I know that. But practically, if you are trying to measure 1/3 of an arbitrary distance, or 1/3 of an arbitrary weight, you are not going to be able to hit the exact, precise measurement using normal household or kitchen tools. Therefore your origin assertion that 1/3 as a fraction is more accurate than decimal is meaningless, as you can’t actually utilise that extra precision.
Imperial measurements that are not integers are displayed in fractions.
Often, they’re not: look at packaging labels especially in grocery stores.
Engineers use decimals regardless of unit.
Weight scales in the US don’t mark 1⁄3.
Quarter & third likely show up for verbal ease/brevity of naming: saying 250 grams is a bit of mouthful & unlikely for naming anything.
I suspect if Americans used metric, they might still use fractions to refer to burgers by weight/mass in kg (like drugs!).
In metrics, fractions are rarely used.
Also convention.
Nothing prevents 1⁄3 kg, 1⁄4 kg, and I’d expect to see 1⁄3 kg more often than 0.3̅ kg if rounding were avoided.
In metric, Americans still would get this wrong, because they don’t understand fractions despite using them.
Or are you suggesting everyone would get the order of 1⁄3 kg & 1⁄4 kg wrong?
Americans rarely see 1/3. We typically only use binary fractions: halves, quarters, eighths, sixteenths. Occasionally, 32nds. Smaller than that, we use decimal.
Obviously 1/3 vs 1/4 is the same distinction regardless of unit. But part of the whole idea of metric is avoiding dealing with fractions in lieu of decimals. It’s inherently less fraction-heavy.
Pretty sure fractions are pure math & not metric or imperial.
Americans do be dumb AF, though.
Yes and no. Imperial measurements that are not integers are displayed in fractions. Hence quarterpounders and thirpounders. In metrics, fractions are rarely used. Because the scales are more granular and because non-integers are usually displayed in decimals.
People thinking a third-pound-burger being smaller than a quarterpounder could not have happened with metrics, because, well, look at the title.
I’m from a country where we use metric and can’t think of anything that would normally be displayed as a fraction. Sure we know what half and third are, but they’re not used officially for anything
You’ve never had to halve a recipe before? Which is easier to do in your head, half of 78.862 milliliters or half of 1/3 cup?
I would round it to 40ml. I have no idea how much 1/6th of a cup would be. Most of my cups are different sizes too so I wouldn’t know which on to trust. Also they are oddly shaped and not transparent making it a real challenge all and all.
No recipe lists 78.862 mm of anything.
A recipe with metric units will default to gram amounts that are divisible by ten and thus infinitely easier to halve than “5/8 of your grandmother’s good cake spoon” or any such folksy nonsense.
I find it funny how people are very confidently incorrect here. Best example I can think of is to compare an imperial and metric drill bit set
Fractions are more accurate. You can’t display 1/3 as a decimal. Americans are dumb, but this isn’t an imperial versus metric thing.
1/3 = 0.(3) (digits in parenthesis indicate repeating)
2/3 = 0.(6)
3/3 = 0.(9) which is equal to 1 btw
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/0.999…
Your accuracy goes out of the window when you are actually measuring things though. The error is as significant as rounding 1/3 to 0.33
Not rounding. Mathematically, 0.(3) (repeating) is the exact same as 1/3
I know that. But practically, if you are trying to measure 1/3 of an arbitrary distance, or 1/3 of an arbitrary weight, you are not going to be able to hit the exact, precise measurement using normal household or kitchen tools. Therefore your origin assertion that 1/3 as a fraction is more accurate than decimal is meaningless, as you can’t actually utilise that extra precision.
Are Europeans afraid of fractions or something? It’s way quicker to mentally add 9/16 and 3/8 compared to 0.5625 and 0.3750…
Like I get that metric is better but “metric is when no fractions” make 0/1 sense.
Edit - tfw you get ratiod by “9+6 is hard” in a thread about people not understanding basic arithmetic
I’m a lifelong American and neither of these are easy, but the decimals are much more like real numbers to me.
I encounter decimal points in my day to day interactions with numbers. Not so with fractions.
I will start learning fractions when restaurants put them in their prices.
“That will be $4 and 3/4,” said no one ever, thank gob.
xD
Often, they’re not: look at packaging labels especially in grocery stores. Engineers use decimals regardless of unit.
Weight scales in the US don’t mark 1⁄3.
Quarter & third likely show up for verbal ease/brevity of naming: saying 250 grams is a bit of mouthful & unlikely for naming anything. I suspect if Americans used metric, they might still use fractions to refer to burgers by weight/mass in kg (like drugs!).
Also convention. Nothing prevents 1⁄3 kg, 1⁄4 kg, and I’d expect to see 1⁄3 kg more often than 0.3̅ kg if rounding were avoided.
In metric, Americans still would get this wrong, because they don’t understand fractions despite using them. Or are you suggesting everyone would get the order of 1⁄3 kg & 1⁄4 kg wrong?
Americans rarely see 1/3. We typically only use binary fractions: halves, quarters, eighths, sixteenths. Occasionally, 32nds. Smaller than that, we use decimal.
Obviously 1/3 vs 1/4 is the same distinction regardless of unit. But part of the whole idea of metric is avoiding dealing with fractions in lieu of decimals. It’s inherently less fraction-heavy.