On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 07:17:08 -0800, "Boomer" wrote:
The fact that Metric is a base 10 system doesn't make a great deal of sense
in the computer world. Fractions are a lot easier to use in inches than in
metric simply because we tend to use a de facto binary methods with them. In
other words, it's easier to think in absolute terms with fractions than
discrete units.

Right. Having a base where integer division is simple and intuitive does
help. Base 2 is simplest, but having a base with several integer factors,
such as base 12, base 16, base 36, or base 60 also has great advantages.
Base 10 is actually sort of lame.

There's good reason why decimal hours never caught on. There's also
excellent reason why grads never replaced degrees for angular measurement.
Base 10 units just don't fit well with ordinary notions of time or angular
displacement.

Gary