The metric system provides a logical method to theorem numbers and mathematical thinking. The device is organized by giving names to each order that magnitude; that is, every time zeros are added to the location value (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc.), metric device prefixes are supplied to suggest the value. Take a look in ~ the most usual metric system prefixes and also where you’ll uncover them.
Common Metric mechanism Prefixes and also Definitions
Metric mechanism prefixes come prior to a simple unit of measure to show a many (or submultiple) of the unit. Simple metric units and also what they measure up include:
meter (length)gram (mass)liter (volume)second (time)Prefixes are added as location values room added. For example, including kilo- come the unit “meter” makes “kilometer,” or one thousands meters. But including milli- to “meter” creates “millimeter,” which method one thousandth the a meter. Below is a table of the most typically used metric prefixes that have the right to be added to the basic units of measurement.
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Metric Prefix | Notation | Place Value |
pico- | 0.000000000001 | trillionth |
nano- | 0.000000001 | billionth |
micro- | 0.000001 | millionth |
milli- | 0.001 | thousandth |
centi- | 0.01 | hundredth |
deci- | 0.1 | tenth |
1 | one (no prefix) | |
deca- | 10 | ten |
hecta- | 100 | hundred |
kilo- | 1,000 | thousand |
mega- | 1,000,000 | million |
giga- | 1,000,000,000 | billion |
tera- | 1,000,0000,000,000 | trillion |
Metric mechanism prefixes administer a simple way to understand exactly what every unit the measurement stands for in the metric system, because the prefixes call you how much larger a unit is 보다 the basic unit. Take a look in ~ the most frequently used metric prefixes because that length, mass, volume, and time.
Metric Prefixes because that Length
When she measuring just how long miscellaneous is v the metric system, you usage meters. Below are the prefixes most typically used with the word “meter” to define length.
Metric Prefix | Place value Definition | Usage for Length |
milli- | 0.001(thousandth) | milliliter, milligram |
centi- | 0.01(hundredth) | centimeter |
deci- | 0.1(tenth) | decimeter |
1(one) | meter (no prefix for base unit) | |
deca- (or deka-) | 10(ten) | decameter (or dekameter) |
hecto- | 100(hundred) | hectometer |
kilo- | 1,000(thousand) | kilometer |
Metric Prefixes for Mass
Measurements that mass tell you exactly how much matter things contains. The basic unit for load is grams, and it arrays from a metric ton come a tiny milligram. Here are the prefixes because that metric dimensions of mass.
Metric Prefix | Place value Definition | Usage because that Mass |
milli- | 0.001(thousandth) | milligram |
centi- | 0.01(hundredth) | centigram |
deci- | 0.1(tenth) | decigram |
1(one) | gram (no prefix for base unit) | |
deca- (or deka-) | 10(ten) | decagram (or dekagram) |
hecto- | 100(hundred) | hectogram |
kilo- | 1,000(thousand) | kilogram |
mega- | 1,000,000(million) | megagram (metric ton) |
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Metric Prefixes because that Volume
If you desire to know exactly how much room an thing takes up, measure its volume with liters. Large volumes are measured in kiloliters, while little volumes are generally measured in milliliters. Right here are the most usual metric prefixes and also their meanings for volume measurement.
Metric Prefix | Place Value | Usage for Length |
milli- | 0.001(thousandth) | milliliter |
centi- | 0.01(hundredth) | centiliter |
deci- | 0.1(tenth) | deciliter |
1(one) | liter (no prefix for base unit) | |
deca- (or deka-) | 10(ten) | decaliter (or dekaliter) |
hecto- | 100(hundred) | hectoliter |
kilo- | 1,000(thousand) | kiloliter |
Metric Prefixes for Time
You may have heard the native “nanosecond” or “millisecond” before, but what around “decasecond?” the less usual in daily life 보다 in a chemistry or physics report, yet multiples the time usage metric prefixes together well. Take a watch at this prefixes used to measure time.
Metric Prefix | Place value Definition | Usage for size (Common Units) |
nano- | 0.00001 (billionth) | nanosecond |
micro- | 0.0001(millionth) | microsecond |
milli- | 0.001(thousandth) | millisecond |
1(one) | second (no prefix because that base unit) | |
deca- (or deka-) | 10(ten) | decasecond (0.17 minutes) |
hecto- | 100(hundred) | hectosecond (1.67 minutes) |
kilo- | 1,000(thousand) | kilosecond (16.7 minutes) |
mega- | 1,000,000 (million) | megasecond (11.6 days) |
giga- | 1,000,000,000(billion) | (31.7 years) |
Everyday instances of Metric device Prefixes
A couple of metric prefixes have become common in areas of language not pertained to measurement. For example, mega- is often added to any type of word colloquially to show that something is an extremely large.
The Mega Millions jackpot is huge this weekend.The mega-monster is certain to be featured in the movie"s sequel.Be sure to stop at the store’s mega-savings revenue tomorrow.We can’t hear you; use the megaphone to speak.Likewise, micro- has end up being common to show that miscellaneous is an extremely small.
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