Here's One For You All...

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Here's One For You All...
Topic Started: May 25 2007, 05:31 AM (154 Views)
Paul	May 25 2007, 05:31 AM Post #1
Croc Posts: 270 Group: Members Member #110 Joined: March 27, 2007	Those of us old enough know that 12 inches make a foot, but how was the term "inch" derived? And for the younger ones out there, how on earth was the centimetre derived? There is a clue in either question... Thinking caps on please. :lol: Paul.



Bex	May 25 2007, 09:43 AM Post #2
Redback Posts: 9 Group: Members Member #124 Joined: May 24, 2007	Dunno! But have got my year 8 class thinking about it as I type!!
	[SIZE=1]Australia here we come!


Paul	May 26 2007, 10:50 PM Post #3
Croc Posts: 270 Group: Members Member #110 Joined: March 27, 2007	Aw, c'mon. Surely it's not that difficult? Anyone care just to take a guess? Don't be shy. I'll let it run for a couple more days and then give the answer if no one's got it. You'll never believe the reasoning behind the centimetre, but the inch is more obvious. Guess, guess, guess, guess....



cathnpaul	May 27 2007, 09:07 PM Post #4
Moderator - Croc. the yellow ribbon is for Maddy.x Posts: 464 Group: Members Member #21 Joined: October 29, 2006	Paul May 26 2007, 10:50 PM Aw, c'mon. Surely it's not that difficult? Anyone care just to take a guess? Don't be shy. I'll let it run for a couple more days and then give the answer if no one's got it. You'll never believe the reasoning behind the centimetre, but the inch is more obvious. Guess, guess, guess, guess.... It was originally called ynce or something like that and if I remember rightly it was something to do with someone royal who used to use his thumb to measure stuff. I cant remember the full details to be honest as it was somethign I was taught as a child. looking forward to the true description actually.
	LATE JUNE 2007, IS THE START OF <span style='font-family:Arial'>A NEW LIFE DOWN UNDER</span>


Paul	May 29 2007, 09:28 AM Post #5
Croc Posts: 270 Group: Members Member #110 Joined: March 27, 2007	Yes, quite who thought of the "rule of thumb" - a rule has 12 inches - as the inch bit I don't know but whenever someone went to market to buy or sell, one's thing for sure, they usually took their thumbs with them and a measure of a thumb was called an "inch". But a centimetre is far more mathematical - trust le French. They came up with the idea that if the shortest distance between the equator and the north pole (via Paris) was split into a billion equal parts, one of those parts shall be called a centimetre! So one cm = one-billionth of the distance between the equator and the north pole via Paris! No wonder their cars are a little quirky... P.



cathnpaul	May 31 2007, 03:16 AM Post #6
Moderator - Croc. the yellow ribbon is for Maddy.x Posts: 464 Group: Members Member #21 Joined: October 29, 2006	Paul May 29 2007, 09:28 AM Yes, quite who thought of the "rule of thumb" - a rule has 12 inches - as the inch bit I don't know but whenever someone went to market to buy or sell, one's thing for sure, they usually took their thumbs with them and a measure of a thumb was called an "inch". But a centimetre is far more mathematical - trust le French. They came up with the idea that if the shortest distance between the equator and the north pole (via Paris) was split into a billion equal parts, one of those parts shall be called a centimetre! So one cm = one-billionth of the distance between the equator and the north pole via Paris! No wonder their cars are a little quirky... P. There is always one know all. haha.
	LATE JUNE 2007, IS THE START OF <span style='font-family:Arial'>A NEW LIFE DOWN UNDER</span>


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