The New International Encyclopædia/Decimal System

​DECIMAL SYSTEM (from Lat. decimus, tenth). A name applied to any system of weights, measures, money, etc., in which the standard unit is divided into tenths, hundredths, etc., for the denominations below it, and multiplied by 10, 100, etc., for those above it. An excellent example is that of the French or metric system of measures. The meter (approximately 39.37 inches in length) is the unit of linear measure, and serves as a foundation for the measures of length, surface, volume, capacity, and weight. For the higher denominations the Greek deka, hekto, kilo, myria, are prefixed to signify the multiples 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, respectively. Thus 1 dekameter 10 meters; 1 hektometer 100 meters, and so on. On the other hand, the Latin prefixes deci, centi, milli, are used to express divisions by 10, 100, etc., and thus furnish names for the lower denominations; e.g. 1 decimeter = ⁠1/10⁠ of a meter; 1 centimeter = ⁠1/100⁠ of a meter. Similarly with money; the franc being the unit, a decime is the tenth part of a franc, and a centime the hundredth part. The monetary system of the United States of America, like that of nearly every civilized country except England, is decimal. Indeed, the numerical system in general use the world over is the most notable example. See Metric System; Numerals; Notation; and Fraction.