Convert dm to m -
Convert m to dm

Convert decimeters to meters and vice versa

Meter and Decimeter

What is a Meter?

A meter (m) is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). It was originally defined as 1/10,000,000 of the distance from the equator to the north pole measured over the circumference of the earth through Paris. However, this definition has been revised several times over time and is now defined as the distance that light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second.

What is a Decimeter?

A decimeter (dm) is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one tenth of a meter. The term "decimeter" comes from the Latin word 'decimus', meaning 'tenth', and 'metrum', meaning 'measure'. This nomenclature reflects the relationship of the decimeter to the meter, with the decimeter being a tenth the size of a meter.

The Ratio Between Meter and Decimeter

A meter and a decimeter relate to each other as ten to one. That is, there are ten decimeters in a meter. This is due to the definition of the decimeter as a tenth of a meter. The conversion factor between meters and decimeters is therefore 10: if you want to convert a length from meters to decimeters, you multiply by 10,

1 meter = 10 decimeters

and if you want to convert from decimeters to meters, you divide by 10.

1 decimeter = 0.1 meter

Examples of Objects

A typical object that is about a decimeter long is a standard ruler. Most rulers used in schools and offices are 30 centimeters (or 3 decimeters) long.

On the other hand, objects that are about a meter long include an adult guitar and a baseball bat. The length of a door in a typical house is also about two meters, which is twice the length of a meter.

In short, the meter and the decimeter are both important units of length in the metric system, and they are often used in different aspects of everyday life.