What are the merits and drawbacks of using a person’s foot as a standard? Consider both (a) a particular person’s foot and (b) any person’s foot. Keep in mind that it is advantageous that fundamental standards be accessible (easy to compare to), invariable (do not change), indestructible and reproducible.

The merits of using a person’s foot as a standard are as follows:

• It is easily reproducible.
• It is cheaper than other instruments of measurement.
• It is easily accessible even to the people of the lower economic section.

The demerits of using a particular person’s foot as a standard are as follows:

• The particular person will die ultimately, and then the standard will change.
• The foot size of the person will change with age.
• The foot size may also change due to temperature, among many other factors.

The merits of using any person’s foot as a standard are as follows:

• It is easily accessible to all.
• It is cheaper than other instruments of measurement.
• It is within reach of all economic groups of society.

The drawbacks of using any person’s foot as a standard are as follows:

• Different people have different foot sizes.
• The foot size of a person changes with age.
• The foot sizes of men and women are different.