Metric vs Imperial: A Complete Comparison
Most of the world uses the metric system, while the US, Liberia, and Myanmar primarily use imperial units. Understanding both systems is essential for international work.
Metric System
Based on powers of 10. Length: meter (m). Weight: gram (g). Volume: liter (L). Temperature: Celsius (°C). Used by ~95% of the world population. Prefixes indicate scale: kilo (1000×), centi (1/100), milli (1/1000).
Imperial System
Historical units with irregular relationships. Length: inch, foot, yard, mile. Weight: ounce, pound, ton. Volume: cup, pint, quart, gallon. Temperature: Fahrenheit (°F). Primarily used in the United States.