Definition:Imperial/Length/International Mile

Definition

The (international) mile is an imperial unit of length.

\(\ds \)

\(\)

\(\ds 1\)

(international) mile

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 8\)

furlongs

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 80\)

chains

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 320\)

rods, poles or perches

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 1760\)

yards

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 1609 \cdotp 344\)

metres (exactly)

Also known as

An international mile is usually referred to just as a mile.

It is sometimes seen referred to as a statute mile, but this is an older term dating back to before the precise $1959$ definition based on the metre.

There are many other kinds of mile.

Historical Note

The international mile was a readjustment and redefinition in $1959$ of the statute mile.

The latter had been defined by statute in $1593$ under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England.

Previously there were a number of different and variously-defined miles used throughout not only the world, but also the British Isles.

Sources

• 1944: Alfred E. Holbrow: Geometrical Drawing (12th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Section $\text I$. Introduction
• 1966: Isaac Asimov: Understanding Physics ... (previous) ... (next): $\text {I}$: Motion, Sound and Heat: Chapter $2$: Falling Bodies: Free Fall
• 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $11$
• 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $1760$
• 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $11$
• 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $1760$
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): mile
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): mile