Mile — Definition, Formula & Examples
A mile is a unit of distance equal to 5,280 feet. It is used to measure long distances, like the length of a road between two towns.
In the U.S. customary system, one mile is defined as exactly 5,280 feet, equivalently 1,760 yards or approximately 1.609 kilometers.
Key Formula
Where:
How It Works
You use miles to measure distances that are too long for feet or yards to be practical. Road signs show distances in miles, and car odometers track how many miles you have driven. To convert miles to feet, multiply by 5,280. To convert miles to yards, multiply by 1,760.
Worked Example
Problem: A family drives 3 miles to school. How many feet is that?
Step 1: Use the conversion: 1 mile = 5,280 feet.
Step 2: Multiply the number of miles by 5,280.
Answer: 3 miles is equal to 15,840 feet.
Why It Matters
Miles appear on every road sign, map, and GPS in the United States. Understanding this unit helps you read maps, estimate travel time, and solve distance problems in math class.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing miles with kilometers and treating them as the same size.
Correction: A mile is longer than a kilometer. One mile is about 1.609 kilometers, so always check which unit a problem is using.