Use of symbols for units in exam answers

[nicklawford]

Was not really sure where to put this question so here it is in ''missing categories''.

I guess I might be accused of pedantics in extremis with this question - but there are international standards. This subject came up today at work while peer checking a colleagues document.

How far would an IRSE examiner be looking at details like correct use of symbols? A knowledge of relevant standards is part of the syllabus - in answering say a question that requires a calculation of quantities of units, is an examiner looking for correct use of ISO 31-0 as well as the maths and physics e.g.

160km/h 160 kmh 160 KM/H 160 Km/hr are all not correct

160 kph is in common usage but formally incorrect

160 km/h correct


I would hope an examiner would be rather more interested in the candidates answers to the signalling elements - but is it possible that the one mark that makes a difference between a pass or fail lies in getting this right ?


I am also doing this partly tongue in cheek as I have seen such errors in the IRSE exam *question* papers - although I don't suppose pointing that out in an exam answer would be particularly productive unless there were a real anomaly.


I am generally loathe to refer to wikipedia but there is an overview of all this at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_31-0


I also refer to this useful site:

http://www.unc.edu/%7Erowlett/units/index.html

for general help on just about anything to do with units and symbols and conversion factors.




--
Nick