An article in Today's "Times" described "Neverland" (Micheal Jackson's estate) as being 2600 acres (10.5 sq km) in extent.
A person who is used to handling land areas in Imperial units can easily visulise what 2600 acres is. Likewise, a person who is used to handling land areas in metric units can easily visualise what 10.5 sq km or 1050 ha is.
What about those who are not used to handling land measures. The person who is used to handling metric units need only take the square root of 10.5 (Somewhere between 3 and 4, but closer to 3, so say about 3.2) and he will realise that 10.5 sq km is equivalent to a square of sides of 3.2 km. THe person who is making the equivalent calculation in Imperial units first needs to divide by 640 to get square miles. THis gives about 3.9 square miles. Only then can he worry about taking the square root to realise that the area of Jackson's ranch is equivalent to a square with side of 2 miles.
Indeed. I find that in the workplaces and on the streets of Britain, people are not only used to handling metric units but also do square roots in their head several times a day. In fact, surveys show that 99 out of every 100 can immediately do square roots in their head; I guarantee that if you try this out in a shopping centre near you tomorrow, and ask folk what the square root of 10.5 is, nearly all of them will be able to say: "Ooh, somewhere between 3 and 4, about 3.24 I think, from memory'.
For the tiny minority who don't practise metric square roots daily, you could always try saying: '4 square miles'
PaulEOS
Re: Neverland
November 21 2003, 7:50 PM
But most people in the U.S. can already visualize the area covered by an acre anyway. It's what they've grown up with. Besides, 2600 / 640 = Approx. 4 sq. mi. is not exactly difficult.