Metric Prefixes

1024

yotta

Y

1021

zetta

Z

1018

exa

E

1015

peta

P

1012

tera

T

109

giga

G

106

mega

M

103

kilo

k

102

hecto

h

101

deka

da

10-1

deci

d

10-2

centi

c

10-3

milli

m

10-6

micro

m

10-9

nano

n

10-12

pico

p

10-15

femto

f

10-18

atto

a

10-21

zepto

z

10-24

yocto

y

Notice

All of the prefix names start with small letters.

Abbreviations for Powers of 106 and greater are abbreviated with capital letters.

Powers greater than or equal to 10^6 end in "a". mega meter is Mm.

Powers 10^-6 or less end in an "o," A nano meter is nm.

 

For the largest and smallest divisions divide the power by 3 the resulting number will remind you of the name of the prefix.

10-24 take 24 divide by 3 = -8 think octo remember yocto, yotta

and in the opposite direction

exa remember hexa or 6 multiply by 3 = 18 so 1018

Take the Metric Prefix Quiz

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Scientific Explorations with Paul Doherty

© 1999

6 May 99