What Is dekagram?
A dekagram is a unit used to measure mass in the metric system. One dekagram is equal to ten grams. It is handy for weighing small items like food, fruit, or baking ingredients.
The word can also be spelled decagram, but both words mean the same thing. In real life you will see it written as its symbol, not usually spelled out.
Definition
A dekagram is a metric unit of mass.
- 1 dekagram = 10 grams
- 1 dekagram = 0.01 kilograms
- 1 dekagram is a bit more than one third of an ounce
So if you put ten paper clips that each weigh 1 gram together, their total mass is about 1 dekagram.
History / Origin
The dekagram comes from the metric system, which was first created in France in the late 1700s to make measuring simple and consistent everywhere.
The name has two parts.
- deka comes from the Greek word for ten
- gram is the basic metric unit for mass
Together they mean ten grams. The prefix deka was officially accepted in the metric system long ago and is now part of the International System of Units, also called SI.
Symbol & Abbreviation
The standard symbol for dekagram is:
- dag
You may sometimes see other short forms in certain countries, such as dkg, but dag is the correct SI symbol used in science and on most technical charts.
Examples.
- 3 dag means 3 dekagrams
- 7.5 dag means 7 and a half dekagrams
Current Use Around the World
The dekagram is not as common as grams and kilograms, but it is still used in some places, mainly for food.
- In parts of Europe, such as Hungary, Poland, and some other Central European countries, food in stores is often sold in dekagrams.
- Butcher shops and cheese counters may list prices per dekagram.
- In most other countries, people prefer grams and kilograms, especially in packaging and recipes.
- Scientists usually use grams, kilograms, or milligrams rather than dekagrams.
So while the dekagram is an official metric unit, it is more of a everyday shopping unit than a science unit in most cases.
Example Conversions
Here are some easy conversions between dekagrams and other common units.
Dekagrams to grams
- 1 dag = 10 g
- 5 dag = 50 g
- 12 dag = 120 g
- 20 dag = 200 g
Grams to dekagrams
- 10 g = 1 dag
- 25 g = 2.5 dag
- 100 g = 10 dag
- 250 g = 25 dag
Dekagrams to kilograms
- 1 dag = 0.01 kg
- 50 dag = 0.5 kg
- 100 dag = 1 kg
Dekagrams to ounces about values
- 1 dag ≈ 0.35 oz
- 5 dag ≈ 1.76 oz
- 10 dag ≈ 3.53 oz
Simple tip To go from dekagrams to grams, multiply by 10. To go from grams to dekagrams, divide by 10.
Related Units
The dekagram belongs to the family of metric mass units based on the gram.
- milligram mg, 1 mg = 0.001 g
- centigram cg, 1 cg = 0.01 g
- decigram dg, 1 dg = 0.1 g
- gram g, the base metric unit for mass
- dekagram dag, 1 dag = 10 g
- hectogram hg, 1 hg = 100 g
- kilogram kg, 1 kg = 1,000 g
There are also non metric units used in some countries.
- ounce oz, used for small masses, 1 oz ≈ 28.35 g
- pound lb, 1 lb = 16 oz ≈ 453.59 g
FAQs
What is a dekagram in simple words
A dekagram is a metric unit that shows a mass of ten grams. It is used to measure fairly small amounts, like a few slices of meat or some cheese.
How many grams are in a dekagram
There are exactly 10 grams in 1 dekagram. You can think of a dekagram as a bundle of ten 1 gram pieces.
How many dekagrams are in 100 grams
To find this, divide 100 by 10. So 100 grams is equal to 10 dekagrams.
Is dekagram the same as decagram
Yes, they are the same unit. Dekagram and decagram are just different spellings. Both mean ten grams and both usually use the symbol dag.
Where is the dekagram commonly used
The dekagram is most common in parts of Central Europe, for example in Hungary and Poland. Food stores there often price items per dekagram.
Do scientists use dekagrams
Not often. In science, people usually work with grams, kilograms, milligrams, or sometimes micrograms. Dekagrams are more common in markets and kitchens than in laboratories.
How do I convert dekagrams to kilograms
To change dekagrams into kilograms, divide by 100. For example, 50 dag divided by 100 is 0.5 kg.
Why is the symbol dag and not dk
In the metric system, symbols follow a pattern. The prefix deka is written as da and gram is written as g. When you put them together you get dag.
