Decade to Century Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert decades to centuries with our free online time converter.
Decade to Century Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Decade).
- The converted value in Century will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Time category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Decade to Century
Converting Decade to Century involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Decade = 0.1 centuriesExample Calculation:
Convert 60 decades: 60 × 0.1 = 6 centuries
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
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What is a Decade and a Century?
A decade is a unit of time equal to 10 consecutive years. It is commonly used to group years for historical, cultural, or statistical analysis, often referring to periods like the 1980s or 2010s.
A century is a unit of time equal to 100 consecutive years. It is widely used for marking long periods, especially in historical contexts and for discussing long-term trends.
Note: The Decade is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Century belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Decade and Century
The term "decade" originates from the Ancient Greek word "dekas" (δέκας), meaning a group of ten, which passed into Latin as "decem" and then into English. Its application specifically to a ten-year period became standard alongside the development and use of calendar systems for tracking longer spans of time.
The word "century" derives from the Latin "centum," meaning one hundred. In ancient Rome, a centuria was initially a military unit of about 100 soldiers. The application of the term to a period of 100 years became common with the development and standardization of calendar systems, particularly the Julian and Gregorian calendars, used for historical dating.
Common Uses for decades and centuries
Explore the typical applications for both Decade (imperial/US) and Century (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for decades
Decades are frequently used for:
- Historical periods: Referring to specific ten-year periods, typically starting with a year ending in '0' (e.g., the 1990s refers to the years 1990-1999).
- Trend analysis: Discussing cultural, social, economic, or political trends that characterize a ten-year span.
- Anniversaries: Marking significant anniversaries known as decennials (10th anniversaries).
- Data analysis: Grouping data in demographic studies, historical analysis, and long-term planning.
Common Uses for centuries
Centuries are primarily used for:
- Dating historical eras: (e.g., the 18th century refers to the years 1701-1800).
- Discussing long-term trends: Examining historical, cultural, social, or geological changes spanning multiple generations.
- Marking centennials: Celebrating significant 100th anniversaries.
- Grouping years: Organizing timelines in genealogy and long-term planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Decade (dec)
How many years are in one decade?
A decade is defined as exactly 10 years.
How are decades typically named or referred to?
Decades are commonly referred to by the century and the tens digit of the years they encompass, such as "the 1980s" (1980-1989) or "the 2020s" (2020-2029). The first decade of a century (e.g., 2000-2009) is sometimes called "the noughties" or "the aughts".
Is the decade an SI unit?
No, the decade is not a unit within the International System of Units (SI). The base SI unit for time is the second. While widely used in historical and cultural contexts, scientific measurements typically use seconds, years (often Julian years for consistency), or larger multiples like kiloyears (kyr) or megayears (Myr).
About Century (c)
How many years are in a century?
A century is defined as exactly 100 years.
When did the 21st century begin?
Following the standard definition where centuries start with year '01, the 21st century began on January 1, 2001, and will end on December 31, 2100. This is because the calendar count started with year 1 AD, not year 0.
Is a century a standard unit in science?
While commonly understood, the century is not a base or derived unit within the International System of Units (SI). The SI unit for time is the second. Scientists typically use years (often specified as Julian years for consistency) or multiples like kiloyears (kyr) or megayears (Myr) for very long timescales.
Conversion Table: Decade to Century
| Decade (dec) | Century (c) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.1 |
| 5 | 0.5 |
| 10 | 1 |
| 25 | 2.5 |
| 50 | 5 |
| 100 | 10 |
| 500 | 50 |
| 1,000 | 100 |