movies / books / rods

[Carol]

Geoff wrote:
> Being in pedantic mood, the tables we were taught were:
> 12 inches = 3 foot
> 3 feet = 1 yard
> 22 yards = 1 chain
> 10 chains = 1 furlong
> 8 furlongs = 1 mile
> 
> In practice, the general usage is:
> 12 inches = 1 yard
> 5280 feet = 1760 yards = 1 mile
> 
> Other than furlong, which gets used in horse racing, the 
> other equalities tend to be ignored. A rod is 5.5 yards, 
> hence four to the furlong.
>
Carol responds:
I yield to your expertise on rods, chains, and furlongs, but surely
twelve inches equals one foot and three feet equals one yard. That
much I was taught, along with one mile equalling 5,280 feet or 1,760
yards.

Carol, who was never taught any such tables, possibly because the
teachers thought them outmoded