[derekp7]

I'm assuming there is a reason for the 1/3 meter request, such as the board needs to fit in a specific spot. So you are saying that it is better to hand the worker a yard stick, so he can measure out 13.12322835 (approx) inches?

In reality, I would cut the board either 33.4 mm, or 13 1/8 inches (a bit long) then pound it in place (wood has a bit of give to it).

[friend_and_foe]

You're missing it entirely. If we weren't measuring using meters in the first place he wouldn't even be asked to cut 1/3rd of a meter. He'd be asked to cut 1/3rd of a yard, which is very easy on a yardstick. It only needs to fit in a specific spot that is a third of a meter because the structure around that spot was measured and built with the metric system.

[Jensson]

But they wouldn't ask for a third of a meter if they were using metric, just like you wouldn't ask for a firth of a yard if you were using imperial.

[mulmen]

The US customary system conventionally uses reciprocal powers of two. 1/3 is unlikely to be a specified distance. I rarely hear anyone speak in yards. If someone wanted “a third of a yard” they’d just say one foot. A third of a foot is just four inches. Or slightly less for clearance would be three and 7/8 inches, etc.

[friend_and_foe]

Yes they would, if they wanted something divided by 3.