Fraction Finder Utility

Jamie · #1 10-21-2005, 06:15 AM

For those out there like me that may be a little math-challenged...

Have you ever seen some random decimal value in the project and wondered if there was a fractional equivalent without having to resort to trial and error with a calculator or a chart? Well, me too. I wrote this little utility that allows you to enter any decimal value and it will give you exact as well as approximate fractions. I thought some of you may find it useful.

Fraction Finder

TShort · #2 10-21-2005, 08:01 AM

hmmm.... "math challenged" and writes code to do this? I think you and I have a little different definition of challenged !!

Looks cool! Thanks - now I just have to get a laptop and wireless in the shop!

Thomas
-8 wings

tinman · #3 10-21-2005, 08:45 AM

Having to resort to such a crutch tells us that our way (U.S.A.) of measuring is right out of the stone-age. Once you have had a taste of the metric system, you will never want to go back to the Imperial system. I have one of the neat rulers from Avery which has the standard Imperial markings on one side, then a faux metric (inches which have been divided into 100ths on the other side) Guess which side I use? Didn't President Carter attempt to launch the US on the path of the metric system?
Rant over
Tinman (All 68KG of me)

N941WR · #4 10-21-2005, 09:00 AM

Tinman,

Funny you bring this up, we were just talking abou this the other day. I just hate working in the Imperial system, Metric is so much easier.

Last night a friend came by so I cold help install a hitch on his new Dodge pickup and wouldn't you know it, they aren't metric. I had to dig out my old sockets and wrenchs, the big ones.

I now have two complete set of tools, one for the plane and one for almost everything else.

My $.02 worth from all 98KG of me.

mlw450802 · #5 10-21-2005, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinman

Having to resort to such a crutch tells us that our way (U.S.A.) of measuring is right out of the stone-age. Once you have had a taste of the metric system, you will never want to go back to the Imperial system. I have one of the neat rulers from Avery which has the standard Imperial markings on one side, then a faux metric (inches which have been divided into 100ths on the other side) Guess which side I use? Didn't President Carter attempt to launch the US on the path of the metric system?
Rant over
Tinman (All 68KG of me)

OK,
I have 3/16 of a millimeter. What is that in decimal?

Looks like the same issue to me.

-mike

Jamie · #6 10-21-2005, 09:04 AM

I agree. Metric is almost always a better system of measurement.

I went to Sears yesterday to buy a 7.9mm drill bit to use on my gear legs (the plans call for 0.311 and a 7.9mm bit is 0.311023622). But nope...I can't find a metric drill bit anywhere....Sears...Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware -- nobody has 'em.

N941WR · #7 10-21-2005, 09:39 AM

Jamie,

Try Wholesale Tools. They have 7.9mm Drill bits.

Jamie · #8 10-21-2005, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N941WR

Jamie,

Try Wholesale Tools. They have 7.9mm Drill bits.

Nevermind. I just realized that Avery has a reamer that's the correct size for the gear legs. It is listed as "5/16? UNDER SIZE CHUCKING REAMERS -- HIGH SPEED STEEL", SKU# 15358.

tinman · #9 10-24-2005, 05:13 AM

<snip>
OK,
I have 3/16 of a millimeter. What is that in decimal?

Looks like the same issue to me.

<end snip>

In case you are not kidding us, I will take the bait and answer...
The metric system does not use fractions. It is a decimal system. You should never have 3/16th of a mm. If you do, you have picked up a virus along the way while trying to do the math of conversion :-)
Tinman

mlw450802 · #10 10-24-2005, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinman

<snip>
OK,
I have 3/16 of a millimeter. What is that in decimal?

Looks like the same issue to me.

<end snip>

In case you are not kidding us, I will take the bait and answer...
The metric system does not use fractions. It is a decimal system. You should never have 3/16th of a mm. If you do, you have picked up a virus along the way while trying to do the math of conversion :-)
Tinman

Apparently I was a little too brief with my answer. Converting fractions to decimals (or vice versa) is a unit-independent operation. It has nothing to do with Metric versus US. That argument (M vs US) is separate.

If I have a 1/4 liter of something, I can convert it to thousandths of a liter and call it 250 ml.
If I have a 1/4 inch of something, I can convert it to thousandths of an inch and call it 250 thousandths of an inch or 250 milli-inches.

Same process both ways with the same numerical result.

I stick with Same-O-same-O

-Mike