hectometre

Hectometre, symbol hm, is a unit of length in the metric system equal to 100 metres. The name comes from the Greek hekaton meaning hundred and metron meaning measure. As an SI unit, the hectometre is formed by the prefix he k to be used with the base unit metre, producing a decimal multiple.

One hectometre equals 100 metres, which is 0.1 kilometres. It can also be expressed as 10 decametres or 10,000 centimetres. Conversely, ten hectometres make one kilometre.

Usage and context: the hectometre is a legitimate SI unit, but it is not commonly used in everyday measurement. Kilometres are preferred for longer distances, and metres or centimetres are preferred for more precise local measurement. The hectometre may appear in certain technical, scientific, or surveying contexts, or in educational materials to illustrate SI prefixes. Spelling varies by variety of English: hectometre (British) and hectometer (American). The abbreviated form is hm.

Overall, the hectometre is a straightforward decimal unit in the metre family, convenient for expressing intermediate scales between metres and kilometres, though it sees limited practical use in routine measurements.