Units for Measuring Length

Units for measuring length are discussed here.

We have different units of measurements to measure lengths. The bigger unit of measuring length is kilometer. Smaller measurement units are decimeter, centimeter and millimeter.

We know that the standard unit of length is ‘Meter’ which is written in short as ‘m’.

A meter length is divided into 100 equal parts.

Each part is named centimeter and written in short as ‘cm’.

Thus, 1 m = 100 cm and 100 cm = 1 m

The long distances are measured in kilometer. This kilometer equals to 1000 meters. The kilometer is written in short as km.

1 kilometer (km) = 1000 meters (m) and 1000 m = 1 km


The different units of length and their equivalents are given here:

1 kilometer (km)           

1 Hectometer (hm)  

1 Demetre (dcm)  

1 Meter (m)

1 Decimeter (dm)   

1 Centimeter (cm)   

= 10 Hectometers (hm) = 1000 m

= 10 Decathletes (dcm) = 100 m

= 10 Metres (m)

= 10 Decimeters (dm) = 100 cm = 1000 mm

= 10 Centimetres (cm)

= 10 Millimetres (mm)


Mostly we use Kilometer (km), Meter (m) and Centimeter (cm) as the units of length.

If you look at the ruler you can find that one centimeter is divided into 10 equal parts which are marked by smaller lines. Each line represents 1 millimeter. So, 10 millimeters is equal to 1 cm. 10 mm = 1 cm.

Units for Measuring Length

Millimeter is written in short form as mm. Smaller lengths such as thickness of a tile or card board are measured in millimeters.

If we divide 1 meter into 10 equal parts then each part is called a decimeter. It is written in short form as dm.

10 dm = 1 m

The higher unit to measure the length is kilometer. We know already that 1 kilometer = 1000 meters.

Standard Units of Length

Note: The set of standard units which we use is known as metric system.

To convert kilometer into meters we multiply by 1000 and meters into kilometer we divide by 1000.


The units for measuring length are cm, m and km. Sometimes when we measure the length of any object, it is not exactly up to the cm-mark.

Measurement of a Pencil

We can observe the length of pencil-ends between 0 and 8 cm. So, the length of the pencil is 8 cm.


Measuring Length from Different Points

If we have a broken ruler and we want to measure the length of an object, keep the object at any starting cm-mark and subtract it from ending cm-mark.

Measuring Length from Different Points

In the figure, you can see that starting cm-mark is 3 and ending cm mark is 8.

Now, subtract this to get the answer 8 cm - 3 cm = 5 cm. So, the length of the eraser is 5 cm.

The basic unit of length is meter (m). The smallest unit is millimeter while the largest is kilometre.

Units of Length:

10 millimeters (mm)

=

1 centimeter (cm)

10 centimeters (cm)

=

1 decimetre (dm)

10 decimeters (dm)

=

1 meter (m)

10 meters (m)

=

1 decametre (dam) 

10 decametres (dare)

=

1 hectometre (hm)

10 hectometers (hm)

=

1 kilometer (km)


1 m is taken as the basic unit of measuring length.

1 dam

=

10 m

1 hm

=

100 m

1 km

=

1000 m

1 dm

=

\(\frac{1}{10}\) m

1 cm

=

\(\frac{1}{100}\) m

1 mm

=

\(\frac{1}{1000}\) m



You might like these

Related Concepts

Units for Measuring Length

Measuring Instruments

To Measure the Length of a Line-segment

Perimeter of a Figure

Unit of Mass or Weight

Examples on Unit of Mass or Weight

Units for The Measurement of Capacity

Examples on Measurement of Capacity

Measurement of Time

Read a Watch or a Clock

Antemeridian (a.m.) or Postmeridian (p.m.)

What Time it is?

Time in Hours and Minutes

24 Hour Clock

Units of Time

Examples Units of Time

Time Duration

Calendar

Reading and Interpreting a Calendar

Calendar Guides us to Know





4th Grade Math Activities

From Units for Measuring Length to HOME PAGE




Didn't find what you were looking for? Or want to know more information about Math Only Math. Use this Google Search to find what you need.



New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. Ask a Question or Answer a Question.




Share this page: What’s this?

Recent Articles

  1. 2nd Grade Fractions Worksheet | Basic Concept of Fractions | Answers

    Nov 23, 24 12:22 AM

    Divide the Collection into 4 Equal Parts
    In 2nd Grade Fractions Worksheet we will solve different types of problems on fractions, one-whole, one-half, one-third, one-fourth, three-fourth or s quarter. In a fraction, it is important that the…

    Read More

  2. Quarter Past and Quarter To | Quarter Past Hour | Quarter to Next Hour

    Nov 22, 24 01:00 AM

    Quarter Past and Quarter To
    The hands of clock move from left to right. This is called the clock wise motion. When the minute hand is on the right side of the clock, it shows the number of minutes past the hour. When the minute…

    Read More

  3. Time Duration |How to Calculate the Time Duration (in Hours & Minutes)

    Nov 22, 24 12:34 AM

    Time Duration Example
    Time duration tells us how long it takes for an activity to complete. We will learn how to calculate the time duration in minutes and in hours. Time Duration (in minutes) Ron and Clara play badminton…

    Read More

  4. 2nd grade math Worksheets | Free Math Worksheets | By Grade and Topic

    Nov 22, 24 12:12 AM

    2nd Grade Math Worksheet
    2nd grade math worksheets is carefully planned and thoughtfully presented on mathematics for the students.

    Read More

  5. 2nd Grade Measurement Worksheet | Measuring Length, Mass and Volume

    Nov 20, 24 12:50 AM

    In 2nd Grade Measurement Worksheet you will get different types of questions on measurement of length, measurement of weight (mass), measurement of capacity (volume), addition of length, addition of w…

    Read More