Which abbreviation is used for a unit of length in the metric system?

Which abbreviation is used for a unit of length in the metric system?

• A. Kilometer
• B. Meter
• C. Centimeter
• D. Millimeter

Answer: (C)

In the metric system, length is measured with units derived from the base unit, the meter, and each unit has a standard abbreviation. The centimeter is a common length unit, and its standard abbreviation is cm. This abbreviation comes from the prefix centi-, meaning one hundredth, so 1 cm equals 0.01 meters. Since the question asks for an abbreviation used for a unit of length, cm is the appropriate choice because it directly represents a metric length unit. (Other length units have their own abbreviations as well—m for meter, km for kilometer, mm for millimeter—showing how the metric prefixes combine with the base unit to form different lengths.)

In the metric system, length is measured with units derived from the base unit, the meter, and each unit has a standard abbreviation. The centimeter is a common length unit, and its standard abbreviation is cm. This abbreviation comes from the prefix centi-, meaning one hundredth, so 1 cm equals 0.01 meters. Since the question asks for an abbreviation used for a unit of length, cm is the appropriate choice because it directly represents a metric length unit. (Other length units have their own abbreviations as well—m for meter, km for kilometer, mm for millimeter—showing how the metric prefixes combine with the base unit to form different lengths.)