Definition: A meter is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), defined as the distance light travels in vacuum in 1/299,792,458 seconds.
History/origin: The meter was originally defined in 1793 during the French Revolution based on the Earth's meridian and later redefined using the speed of light.
Current use: The meter is used worldwide as the standard unit of length for science, industry, and everyday measurements.
Definition: An inch is a unit of length in the Imperial system, equal to 1/12 of a foot or exactly 2.54 centimeters.
History/origin: The inch originated from various human body measurements and has been standardized internationally based on the metric system.
Current use: Inches are widely used in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for measuring small lengths and heights, especially in construction and manufacturing.
| Meters [m] | Inches [in] |
|---|---|
| 0.0254 | 1 |
| 0.127 | 5 |
| 0.254 | 10 |
| 0.508 | 20 |
| 0.762 | 30 |
| 1.27 | 50 |
| 2.54 | 100 |
| 5.08 | 200 |
| 12.7 | 500 |
| 25.4 | 1000 |
1 meter = 39.3701 inches
1 inch = 0.0254 meters
Example: convert 2 meters to inches:
2 ÷ 0.0254 = 78.7402 inches