I learned recently that machinists used to use fractions to indicate tolerance, like a dimension given as 5/16 could be ±1/32 of an inch, because anything less than 9/32 would round to 4/16, and anything more than 11/32 to 6/16.
It can still happen, but usually at the customer’s request/requirements. We actually use inches at a much smaller scale, but use decimals instead of fractions.
Who uses inches at this scale? I mean, really, Wikipedia.
“Hand me my 1/256th inch ruler.” --nobody
I learned recently that machinists used to use fractions to indicate tolerance, like a dimension given as 5/16 could be ±1/32 of an inch, because anything less than 9/32 would round to 4/16, and anything more than 11/32 to 6/16.
It can still happen, but usually at the customer’s request/requirements. We actually use inches at a much smaller scale, but use decimals instead of fractions.