Mexican units of measurement
A number of units of measurement were used in Mexico to measure length, mass, area, capacity, etc. The Metric system was optional from 1857, and has been compulsory since 1896.[1][2]
System before metric system
The Units of the system (from Spanish, Castillian) were legally defined during the transition period of the metric system.[1]
Length
A number of units were used. One vara (lit. "pole", "yard") was equal to 0.838 m (32.99 inches) as it was legally defined also use inches and feet.[1] Some other units and legal equivalents are given below:
1 linea (lit. "line") = 1⁄432 vara
1 pulgada (lit. "thumbful", "inch") = 1⁄36 vara
1 pie (lit. "foot") = 1⁄3 vara
1 milla (lit. "mile") = 5000 pies[3]
Mass
A number of units were used. One libra (lit. "pound") was equal to 0.46024634 kg as it was legally defined.[1] Some other units and legal equivalents are given below:
1 tomin = 1⁄768 libra
1 adarme = 1⁄256 libra
1 ochava ("eighth") = 1⁄128 libra
1 onza ("ounce") = 1⁄16 libra
1 arroba = 25 libras
1 quintal ("hundredweight") = 100 libras
1 terco = 160 libras[1]
Area
A number of units were used. One fanega was equal to 35662.8 m2 as it was legally defined.[1] Some other units and legal equivalents are given below:
1 caballeria = 12 fanegas
1 labor = 18 fanegas
Capacity
Two systems, dry and liquid, were used.
References
- Washburn, E.W. (1926). International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. Vol. 1. New York: McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. p. 9. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. pp. 7. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
- Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. pp. 164–165. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
- Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. New York: D. Appleton & Company. pp. 51.