Answer: The primary difference between a yard and a meter is that a yard is shorter than a meter.

A yard is a unit of length in the imperial system used primarily in the United States, equal to 3 feet or 36 inches. A meter, on the other hand, is the base unit of length in the metric system and is slightly longer than a yard.

To be precise, 1 yard is equal to 0.9144 meters. Conversely, 1 meter is approximately equal to 1.09361 yards. The calculation for converting yards to meters is:

1 yard = 0.9144 meters

And for meters to yards:

1 meter = 1.09361 yards

This difference is significant in fields that require precise measurements, such as engineering, construction, and athletics. Understanding and being able to convert between these units is important in international contexts, where different systems of measurement are used. The metric system, including the meter, is widely used around the world, while the imperial system, including the yard, is primarily used in the United States.