Convert millimeter to mile

Symbol

The millimeter is represented by the symbol "mm." 

Description

Millimeter is an SI (International System of Units) unit of length. It is usually the smallest measure in rulers of the metric system.The word "milli" is derived from the Latin word mille, which means one thousandth. Therefore, a meter is equivalent to a thousand times a millimeter.

The international definition of meter which is the SI base unit of length, is the length of path that light takes in the vacuum over a period of 1/299 792 458 of a second. Thus, 1 millimeter is equivalent to 1/1000 meter. That implies that a millimeter is the distance that light travels in the vacuum in 1/299792458000 seconds.

Following that, there are 10 millimeters in a centimeter and 100 millimeters in a decimeter. In the other direction, a millimeter is equivalent to 1/10 centimeters. A millimeter is also equivalent to 1000 micrometers.

Interestingly the smallest dimension human eyes can detect is about 0.02 to 0.04 mm. This is about the thickness of human hair!

History

The term millimeter was first used in the late 1700s. It was introduced during the development and adoption of the metric system of weights and measures in France in 1795.

The first recorded use of the millimeter was in the Journal of Natural Philosophy in 1797, according to OED (Oxford English Dictionary).

Use

Millimeter is a very small unit of measure. Therefore it is usually used for measuring minute dimensions. 

Symbol

The mile symbol ‘m’ was frequently employed before the widespread adoption of the metric system. However, "mi" became the standard mile symbol after the metric system to avoid confusion between miles and meters.

Description

Mile is a British imperial Unit and United States customary unit of distance. Sometimes the statute mile or international mile distinguishes it from other miles. Both miles are based on the older English unit of length equal to 5,280 English feet, or 1,760 yards.

For length conversion calculation from miles to meter, you need to multiply the mile value by 1609.344. This means one mile is standardized as exactly 1609.344 meters.

Converting mile to kilometers, a mile is exactly 1.609344 kilometers. So, a kilometer is equivalent to 1/1.609344 miles. In case of mile to inches conversion, 63,360 inches make a mile. While inch is a much smaller unit, nautical mile is larger than mile. To be precise, a mile is equal to 0.868976 nautical miles.

The term "mile" is also used to describe or translate a wide variety of units that are derived from or substantially equivalent to the Roman mile (about 1.48 km). That includes the nautical mile (now 1.852 km exactly), the Italian mile (roughly 1.852 km), and the Chinese mile (now 0.5 km or 500 m exactly).

History

Mile originated from the Roman mille passus, or “thousand paces,” which measured 5,000 Roman feet or footsteps. The Romans invented and used this unit 2,000 years ago. They introduced it to the world when they conquered Britain.

Use

Mile is used for expressing land distances between locations. Although Kilometer is more predominantly used these days, many countries use mile for the purpose.