What is the equivalent of 1 meter in centimeters?

To understand why 1 meter is equivalent to 100 centimeters, it's important to consider the metric system's structure. The metric system is based on powers of ten, which creates a straightforward conversion method between different units.

1 meter (m) is the base unit of length in the metric system. The centimeter (cm) is a smaller unit that is defined as one-hundredth of a meter. Therefore, to convert meters to centimeters, you multiply the number of meters by 100.

This conversion can be summarized as follows:

1 m = 100 cm

Thus, when you have 1 meter, it directly translates to 100 centimeters. This foundational knowledge about the metric system allows for easy conversions across various measurements, reinforcing why the conversion from meters to centimeters yields 100 as the equivalent.