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Chapter 2: Problem 48

Around \(1150,\) King David I of Scotland defined the inch as the width of a man's thumb at the base of the nail. Discuss the practical limitations of this early unit of measurement.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The practical limitations of King David I's definition of 'an inch' include variability (variable thumb sizes among different people), lack of precision (difficulty in measuring smaller or fractional units) and lack of standardization (different measurement outcomes by different people).

Step by step solution

01

Analyzing Variability

The first limitation that can be pointed out is the variability. This means that not all men have the same thumb size. So, the measurement of 'an inch' would vary from person to person depending upon the size of their thumb.
02

Discussing Precision

Another disadvantage of this early unit of measurement was lack of precision. With this unit, it would be difficult to measure in fractions or smaller units accurately, which would be crucial in scientific and technical fields.
03

Understanding Standardization

Standardization was not possible with this definition of 'an inch'. Different people would yield different measurements for the same unit leading to discrepancies and making it unrealistic for global or even wider local usage.

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