Monday, February 16, 2015

The Odd One Out

Why Americans still use Fahrenheit long after everyone else switched to Celsius
During my elementary school days when my teachers began teaching how to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, I would always get lost on those homework assignments.  It always seemed useless to know this conversion because the U.S. uses Fahrenheit. Finally my homework made sense when my third grade teacher explained to the class that Celsius is used everywhere else in the world and that it could come in handy to have an understanding of it.  Since then, I have found it strange that the U.S. is the only country that still uses Fahrenheit.  It would make more sense for the U.S. to use Fahrenheit because the rest of the world does.  I know that it would be a difficult process to switch to using Celsius, but it would make things a lot easier in the long run.  If the U.S. would switch to using Celsius, then the whole world would be on the same page when it comes to temperature.

4 comments:

  1. The U.S. is always different with measurements, yes people do find it easier to use but personally i feel a little awkward when i speak to relatives from Mexico and even they use the metric system while we still use the Imperial system.

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  2. Almost every other country besides the U.S uses the metric system. From time measurements to speedometers in cars, the U.S is just always different. This post reminds me of home. Being from L.A, it goes too cold in Sacramento sometimes.

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  3. Hi Moranda,
    It would be great if you could tell us a little more about why the U.S. doesn't change. I know I get that question A LOT from my Slovak husband, who gets very frustrated by the Fahrenheits and miles per gallon and feet and inches and even cups and tablespoons and teaspoons (in Slovakia, they weigh ingredients for cooking on a little scale instead).

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  4. I think it's just great that we are the only country that doesn't use the metric system. We have to stand out, any, and almost every way we can. But in all reality it's pretty stupid and I do actually believe we should all be on the metric system. I don't even think it would take that long to switch over; maybe 2-3 generations tops.

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