If you mean 5 feet and 10 inches, you cannot imagine that with an integer (or swimming) - as you can see, you will encounter serious problems in this way.
, ( , ). . Google , 5,8 == 69,6 , 5 8 (== 68 ). (float) 5.10 === (float) 5.1 === (float) 5.100000 ( ).
, int - (IIRC, 1 = 12 , 5 1 = 5,083 , ).
, . Zend_Measure; PHP, , , US/Imperial.
EDIT: , , - . 5'10 "== (5 * 12) + 10 == 70 , , .