Metric Prefixes & Conversion


      A "light" introduction to the metric system may be found at The Metric System According to milli meter and the metric system itself begins with the definition of meter.

      Once the meter (for length) is defined, other units based on the meter are define. Grams are used for mass. Liters are used for volume.

      Next come the prefixes. Prefixes create multiples and parts of the basic units and this makes measusrement of all sorts easier.

      This page deals with the metric prefixes -- a base ten system of naming units. The above mentioned introduction really explains it quite nicely.

      This page contains a chart of the prefixes and 3 examples.

The top is the complete list of metric prefixes, symbols, and their powers.
The second contains everyday perfixes & CHANGES ONE MEASURE TO ANOTHER.
The examples show that:
To change units, move the decimal point as needed.
 
kiloUNITS to UNITS
UNITS to kiloUNITS   kilogram to milligram




To examine the world from the very small to the very large in terms of their metric lengths and things relatively the same length, visit "The Scale of the Universe 2" by Cary and Michael Huang.


Prefix Symbol Multiply by
quetta Q 1030
ronna R 1027
yotta Y 1024
zetta Z 1021
exa E 1018
peta P 1015
tera T 1012
giga G 109
mega M 106
hectokilo hk 105
myria ma 104
kilo k 103
hecto h 102
deka da 101
UNIT 1 100
deci d 10-1
centi c 10-2
milli m 10-3
decimilli dm 10-4
centimilli cm 10-5
micro µ 10-6
nano n 10-9
pico p 10-12
femto f 10-15
atto a 10-18
zepto z 10-21
yocto y 10-24
ronto r 10-27
quecto q 10-30


1st: Type the original measurement in the desired blue box.
2nd: Press the = sign to change the original units to the new units.
10310210110010-110-210-3
kilohectodekaUNITdecicentimilli
khda1dcm

Change kilos on this row.

Change hectos on this row.

Change dekas on this row.

Change units on this row.

Change decis on this row.

  Change centis on this row.

Change millis on this row.



101210910610310010-310-6
teragigamegakilounitmillimicro
TGMk1mµ

Change teras on this row.

Change gigas on this row.

Change megas on this row.

Change kilos on this row.

Change units on this row.

 
Change millis on this row.

Change micros on this row.

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