Question 1

What units do surveyors use?

Accepted Answer

Modern surveyors use meters. Traditional US surveying uses chains (66 ft), rods (16.5 ft), and links (7.92 in) for land measurement.

Question 2

How is an acre calculated in survey units?

Accepted Answer

1 acre = 10 square chains = 1 chain × 1 furlong. The acre was designed for easy calculation with surveying chains.

Question 3

Is this conversion factor exact?

Accepted Answer

Metric-to-metric conversions are exact (1 km = 1000 m). Imperial-to-metric factors like 1 inch = 2.54 cm are exact by international agreement.

Question 4

Why do some countries use different units?

Accepted Answer

Historical reasons - the metric system spread from France after 1795. The US, UK, and a few others retained older systems. Science uses metric worldwide.

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