Centimeter

Definition: A centimeter (symbol: cm) is a unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), the current form of the metric system. It is defined as 1/100 meters. One centimeter is equal to 0.393701 inches.

History/origin: The prefix "centi-" indicates a hundredth, and therefore one centimeter is equal to one hundredth of a meter. Metric prefixes range from factors of 10^-18 to 10^18 based on a decimal system, with the base (in this case the meter) having no prefix and having a factor of 1. Learning some of the more commonly used metric prefixes, such as kilo-, mega-, giga-, tera-, centi-, milli-, micro-, and nano-, can be helpful for quickly navigating metric units.

Current use: The centimeter, like the meter, is used in all sorts of applications worldwide (in countries that have undergone metrication) in cases where a smaller denomination of the meter is required. Height is commonly measured in centimeters outside of countries like the United States. Centimeters are widely used in everyday measurements, construction, tailoring, and education. They provide a convenient scale for measuring objects that are too large for millimeters but too small for meters.

Kilometer

Definition: A kilometer (symbol: km) is a unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). One kilometer is equivalent to 0.621371 miles.

History/origin: The prefix kilo- is a metric prefix indicating one thousand. One kilometer is therefore one thousand meters. The origin of the kilometer is linked to that of the meter, and its current definition as the distance traveled by light in 1/299,792,458 second. This definition is subject to change, but the relationship between the meter and the kilometer will remain constant.

Current use: It is currently the official unit of measurement for expressing distances between geographical places on land in most of the world. However, there still remain a number of countries that primarily use the mile instead of the kilometer including the United States and the United Kingdom (UK). Unlike the United States, the UK has adopted the metric system; while the metric system is widely used in government, commerce, and industry, remnants of the imperial system can still be seen in the UK's use of miles in its road systems.

Centimeter to Kilometer Conversion Table

How to Convert Centimeter to Kilometer