Wiki page How to use xorlo changed
On Mon, 27 Dec 2004 18:05:10 EST, MorphemeAddict@wmconnect.com
<MorphemeAddict@wmconnect.com> wrote:
> In a message dated 2004-12-27 9:20:00 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> jcowan@reutershealth.com writes:
>
> > In a context of exact numbers, no. Where measurements are in question, .5
> > suggests an accuracy of one decimal place, whereas 1/2 suggests perfect
> > (unattainable) accuracy.
>
> I interpret 1/2 as being to the nearest half, so its precision is 1/5 that
> of 0.5.
Same — I don't interpret "8½×11" paper as being 8.50000000 by
11.000000 inches, for example. Or a baby being born which is described
as "20½ inches long" as having a length of 20.50 inches — more like
20.5. (And possibly with an error of 0.125 in either way, rather than
merely 0.05 in which I might expect had the weight been given in
decimal numbers.)
Cheers,
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