MEASUREMENT 153 



illustration, which is marked in cubic centimeters is 

 called a graduate. This is intended for liquids. 



When we are using the French system we should 

 not compare it with the English standards which 

 we use, but should take it just as it is, that, 

 is, the same as a Frenchman would use it. How- 

 ever, in order to know what are the real values of the 

 French units you should learn the following: 1 centi- 

 meter equals .39 inch, 1 meter equals 39.37 inches, and 1 

 kilometer or 1000 meters (the French mile) equals .62 



Experiment 64. Measurement. 



Apparatus : Rule one foot long, marked in inches 

 and sixteenths, and in centimeters and millimeters, rec- 

 tangular pieces of cardboard of various sizes, cubical 

 blocks of wood of various sizes, empty boxes of various 

 sizes, which are water tight, graduate, several circular tin 

 cans, string. 



a. Find the length and width of a piece of card- 

 board in inches and sixteenths. Now find the area. 

 Measure the same piece of cardboard in centimeters and 

 millimeters. Put down the number of millimeters to the 

 right of the decimal point. Now find the area. Which 

 is easier to use, the French system or the English? 



b. Measure another piece of cardboard, using the 

 French system and compare its area with the area of the 

 first piece. That is, divide the area of the large piece by 

 the area of the smaller piece, carrying the number out to 

 two decimal points. Now measure the second piece of 

 cardboard in the English system and compare its area 

 with the area of the first piece, also in the English sys- 



