jducoeur: (Default)
jducoeur ([personal profile] jducoeur) wrote2007-05-29 07:44 pm

Fractions

Yes, I understand that you weren't very good at fractions in school. Really, I sympathize. But if you're going to work in the butcher's department, I *do* expect you to learn what "2/3 of a pound" means. And no, 1.25 pounds isn't close...

[identity profile] baron-steffan.livejournal.com 2007-05-30 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
On the other hand, I'm reminded of an incident when I was working at the hospital pharmacy 30-odd years ago. The order was for a gallon of quarter-strength Dakin's Solution. So I took the stock bottle of full-strength Dakin's Solution, poured off a quart (using the avoirdupois/apothecaries' measure side of the graduate), and diluted that with water to a gallon (in a gallon jug). I mean...duh...right?

Wrong. My boss, alias Captain Queeg, chewed me out, telling me most sternly that "we use the metric system here, you know". Right. So I ask him, "Okay, so you want me to measure off 946.5 mL and dilute to 3785 mL, right?" And he says, "No, I want you to measure 1 liter, dilute to 4 liters, and throw out the remainder".

True story.