Definition:Metric System/Length/Decimetre

Decimetre

The decimetre is a metric unit of length.

\(\ds \)

\(\)

\(\ds 1\)

decimetre

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 10\)

centimetres

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 100\)

millimetres

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 0 \cdotp 1\)

metres

Symbol

$\mathrm {dm}$

The symbol for the decimetre is $\mathrm {dm}$:

$\mathrm d$ for deci

$\mathrm m$ for metre.

Its $\LaTeX$ code is \mathrm {dm} .

Linguistic Note

The spelling decimetre is the one adopted by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. Decimeter is the variant used in standard American English.

See the linguistic note on metre.

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