Inch

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Inch_tape.jpg

Unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement

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Unit system	Imperial / US customary
Unit of	Length
Symbol	in or ″ (double prime)
Named after

The inch (symbol: in or ″) is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. It is equal to 1/12 of a foot and 1/36 of a yard. The inch is further divided into smaller units. There are 12 lines in an inch, and each line is subdivided into 10 points.

History

The inch has been used as a unit of measurement since the early Middle Ages. The word "inch" is derived from the Latin word "uncia," which means "one-twelfth." Historically, the inch was defined by various standards, including the width of a man's thumb. In 1959, the inch was internationally defined to be exactly 25.4 millimeters.

Usage

The inch is commonly used in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It is used in various applications, including measuring the height of a person, the diameter of a pipe, and the size of a television or computer monitor screen.

Conversion

One inch is equal to:

• 1/12 of a foot
• 1/36 of a yard
• 25.4 millimeters
• 2.54 centimeters

Related Units

• Foot
• Yard
• Mile
• Millimetre
• Centimetre
• Metre

See also

• Imperial units
• United States customary units
• Metric system
• Length
• Measurement