How many centimeters are in one meter?

One meter is equal to 100 centimeters because the metric system is based on powers of ten, making it a straightforward conversion. Specifically, one meter is defined as being composed of 100 smaller units known as centimeters. This relationship is foundational in the metric system, where prefixes denote decimal multiples or submultiples of base units. In this case, the "centi-" prefix signifies one-hundredth of a meter. Therefore, when converting meters to centimeters, you multiply the number of meters by 100. This understanding ensures accurate conversions in various applications, ranging from everyday measurements to scientific calculations.