Mile

A mile is a unit of length belonging to the Imperial and US customary systems of measurement. The statute mile, or land mile, equals 1,609.344 meters, equivalent to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet. It is abbreviated as "mi".

Although many countries have adopted the metric system, the mile remains in official use in the United States, the United Kingdom, and several other smaller nations, particularly in road signs and speed measurement (miles per hour, mph). Somalia and most of Africa use the kilometer.

History and origins

The word derives from Latin mille passus, meaning "one thousand paces" (the double-pace of a Roman soldier). The Roman mile was approximately 1,480 meters. In later centuries, different European countries employed miles of varying lengths. In 1593, an English law called the Weights and Measures Act fixed the mile at 5,280 feet, which remains the basis of the mile in use today.

Types of miles

The nautical mile is 1,852 meters and is officially used for ships and aircraft; it is based on one minute of latitude. There also exists the US survey mile, which is very close to the statute mile but differs slightly, and historical local miles such as the Scandinavian mile, which is longer (approximately 10 kilometers).

Conversion and use

One mile equals approximately 1.609 kilometers; one kilometer equals approximately 0.621 miles. For quick calculation, many people use Fibonacci numbers—for example, 5 miles is roughly 8 kilometers. The mile is also used in sports (racing) and for measuring vehicle distances.