Mile (mi)

Definition

The mile (mi) is a unit of length primarily used in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is defined as exactly * *1,609.344 meters** in the International System of Units (SI).

History

The mile's origins date back to ancient Rome, where it was defined as 1,000 paces (mille passus). Over time, it evolved through various forms, including the statute mile established in England in 1593, which defined the mile as 5,280 feet. The current international definition was adopted in 1959.

Uses

Miles are commonly used in everyday life for measuring distances in the U.S. and the UK, especially in road signage and travel. In aviation and nautical contexts, nautical miles (1 mile = 1.15078 statute miles) are employed. The mile also appears in some sporting contexts, such as track events.

Conversions

1 mile = 1.609344 kilometers
1 mile = 5,280 feet
1 mile = 63,360 inches

Fun Facts

  • A common misconception is that a mile is a round number; it's not. The foot and yard measures are arbitrary.
  • The mile is also used in some countries for historical contexts, like the UK, despite being metric-compliant.
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