This is probably a dumb question but i'm just curious, and since i do not lives in the USA or in Canada i want to ask that: switching from one system to another can affect the property and the reliability of an algorithm?
I know that you are probably saying that i can just convert every foots in meters and every meters in foots and i can be happy with that, but what about the property? Let's say that i found out a new algorithm, a new way of doing things, this algorithm is tested and used in Germany where peoples uses the metric system, i want to test this algorithm in the USA where the units measures are submultiple e multiple of my original measurements: in how many ways this "trip" can affect the math that i learn at the college?
I do not want that you focus your answer on this particular aspect but for "property" i mean things like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numerical_stability and everything the study of the math can produce.
Trying to answer this question by myself i find out a not-so-easy definition about the magnitude, since because some properties are related to the values and its own rapresentation, what about saying that "1000 meters is too much" when with the Imperial system 1000 meters are equally to 3280 feets, the order of magnitude can rapidly change.
I'm simply wrong with this or there is something to know about it?
EDIT: as a curious person i'd like to relate this consideration to every variation of the system measurements in use and not only to the Imperial System.