1centimetre

A centimeter (symbol cm) is a unit of length in the metric system defined as one hundredth of a meter. The prefix centi- denotes 1/100, so 1 cm equals 0.01 meters, and it is equal to 10 millimeters. The meter is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), while the centimeter is a non-SI unit that is accepted for use with SI.

Centimeters are widely used for measuring small distances and dimensions in everyday life. They are common for describing human height, clothing sizes, fabrics, paper or screen dimensions, and various objects where meters are too large but millimeters would be impractical.

Conversions between centimeters and other units are straightforward: 1 cm = 0.393700787 inches (approximately), and 1 inch equals exactly 2.54 centimeters. Also, 1 meter equals 100 centimeters.

History and usage: the centimeter emerged with the metric system in the late 18th and early 19th centuries as part of the movement to standardize units of measure. Today, the value of the centimeter is defined by the meter’s definition (0.01 m), a relationship that remains exact even after the contemporary redefinition of the meter in terms of the speed of light. In scientific writing, meters, centimeters, and millimeters are used depending on scale, with centimeters serving as a convenient intermediate unit for many practical measurements.