What Is Decimeter?
A decimeter is a unit used to measure length in the metric system. It is shorter than a meter but longer than a centimeter. One decimeter is one tenth of a meter.
Definition
A decimeter is a metric unit of length.
- 1 decimeter equals 0.1 meter
- 1 decimeter equals 10 centimeters
- 1 decimeter equals 100 millimeters
You can think of a decimeter as a strip that is as long as ten centimeters lined up in a row. It is a handy size for things that are too small for meters and too big for centimeters.
History / Origin
The decimeter comes from the metric system, which was created in France in the late 1700s. The idea of the metric system was to use units based on the number ten so that calculations would be easy.
The word decimeter is made from two parts:
- deci which means one tenth
- meter which is the basic unit of length in the metric system
So decimeter simply means one tenth of a meter. Scientists and teachers liked this clear and simple system, so it spread to many countries over time.
Symbol & Abbreviation
The standard symbol for decimeter is:
- dm
Notes:
- Use a small d and a small m
- There is no period needed after dm in scientific use
- Numbers are written before the unit, for example 5 dm
Current Use Around the World
The decimeter is part of the International System of Units, also called SI, and is accepted all over the world. However, it is not the most common length unit in daily life.
How it is used:
- Science and education It sometimes appears in math and science lessons to teach metric prefixes.
- Measurements of small objects It can be useful when something is a bit too long to say only in centimeters but too short for a whole meter.
- Some technical fields Certain charts, diagrams or tools may use decimeters for clarity.
In most everyday situations people prefer millimeters, centimeters, or meters. In countries that use the imperial system such as the United States, people more often use inches and feet, but scientists there still understand and use dm when needed.
Example Conversions
Here are some simple conversions using decimeters.
Between decimeters and meters
- 1 dm = 0.1 m
- 5 dm = 0.5 m
- 10 dm = 1 m
- 25 dm = 2.5 m
Between decimeters and centimeters
- 1 dm = 10 cm
- 3 dm = 30 cm
- 7 dm = 70 cm
- 12 dm = 120 cm
Between decimeters and millimeters
- 1 dm = 100 mm
- 2 dm = 200 mm
- 4.5 dm = 450 mm
- 8 dm = 800 mm
Between decimeters and inches and feet
These are approximate values because inches and feet come from a different system.
- 1 dm is about 3.94 inches
- 2 dm is about 7.87 inches
- 3 dm is about 11.81 inches
- 1 dm is about 0.33 foot
- 3 dm is about 0.98 foot which is almost 1 foot
Related Units
The decimeter belongs to the meter family of units. Here are some related units of length.
- Millimeter mm 1 mm is one thousandth of a meter. 100 mm = 1 dm.
- Centimeter cm 1 cm is one hundredth of a meter. 10 cm = 1 dm.
- Meter m The main unit of length in the metric system. 1 m = 10 dm.
- Decameter dam 1 dam is ten meters. 1 dam = 100 dm.
- Hectometer hm 1 hm is one hundred meters. 1 hm = 1,000 dm.
- Kilometer km 1 km is one thousand meters. 1 km = 10,000 dm.
FAQs
Is a decimeter bigger than a centimeter?
Yes. One decimeter is equal to ten centimeters, so it is ten times bigger than a centimeter.
Is a decimeter smaller than a meter?
Yes. One decimeter is one tenth of a meter. It takes ten decimeters to make one meter.
Where is the decimeter used the most?
It is mainly used in schools and in some science and technical work. In everyday life most people use millimeters, centimeters or meters instead.
How do I change centimeters to decimeters?
Divide the number of centimeters by 10. For example 40 cm divided by 10 equals 4 dm.
How do I change decimeters to meters?
Divide the number of decimeters by 10. For example 7 dm divided by 10 equals 0.7 m.
What is the symbol for decimeter?
The symbol for decimeter is dm with both letters in lowercase.