+.\" @(#)units.1 4.1 (Berkeley) %G%
+.\"
+.TH UNITS 1
+.AT 3
+.if n .ds / /
+.if t .ds / \z/\h'\w'*'u'
+.SH NAME
+units \- conversion program
+.SH SYNOPSIS
+.B units
+.SH DESCRIPTION
+.I Units
+converts quantities expressed
+in various standard scales to
+their equivalents in other scales.
+It works interactively in this fashion:
+.PP
+.I " You have:"
+inch
+.br
+.I " You want:"
+cm
+.br
+.I " * 2.54000e+00
+.br
+.I " \*/ 3.93701e\-01
+.PP
+A quantity is specified as a multiplicative combination of
+units optionally preceded by a numeric multiplier.
+Powers are indicated by suffixed positive integers,
+division by the usual sign:
+.PP
+.I " You have:"
+15 pounds force/in2
+.br
+.I " You want:"
+atm
+.br
+.I " * 1.02069e+00"
+.br
+.I " \*/ 9.79730e\-01"
+.PP
+.I Units
+only does multiplicative scale changes.
+Thus it can convert Kelvin to Rankine, but not Centigrade to
+Fahrenheit.
+Most familiar units,
+abbreviations, and metric prefixes are recognized,
+together with a generous leavening of exotica
+and a few constants of nature including:
+.PP
+.nf
+ pi ratio of circumference to diameter
+ c speed of light
+ e charge on an electron
+ g acceleration of gravity
+ force same as g
+ mole Avogadro's number
+ water pressure head per unit height of water
+ au astronomical unit
+.PP
+.fi
+`Pound' is a unit of
+mass.
+Compound names are run together, e.g. `lightyear'.
+British units that differ from their US counterparts
+are prefixed thus: `brgallon'.
+Currency is denoted `belgiumfranc', `britainpound', ...
+.PP
+For a complete list of units, `cat /usr/lib/units'.
+.SH FILES
+/usr/lib/units
+.SH BUGS
+Don't base your
+financial plans on the currency conversions.
projects / unix-history / commitdiff