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The prefixes of the metric system precede a basic unit of measure to indicate a decadic multiple and fraction of a unit. Each prefix has a unique symbol that is prepended to the unit symbol. Some of the prefixes date back to the introduction of the metric system in the 1790s, but new prefixes have been added, and some have been revised.
A metric prefix is a unit prefix that precedes a basic unit of measure to indicate a multiple or submultiple of the unit. All metric prefixes used today are decadic. Each prefix has a unique symbol that is prepended to any unit symbol. The prefix kilo-, for example, may be added to gram to indicate multiplication by one thousand: one kilogram ...
Conversions between units in the metric system are defined by their prefixes (for example, 1 kilogram = 1000 grams, 1 milligram = 0.001 grams) and are thus not listed in this article. Exceptions are made if the unit is commonly known by another name (for example, 1 micron = 10 −6 metre).
The conversion between different SI units for one and the same physical quantity is always through a power of ten. This is why the SI (and metric systems more generally) are called decimal systems of measurement units. [10] The grouping formed by a prefix symbol attached to a unit symbol (e.g. ' km ', ' cm ') constitutes a new inseparable unit ...
Prefix name N/A deca hecto kilo mega giga tera peta exa zetta yotta ronna quetta; Prefix symbol da h k M G T P E Z Y R Q Factor 10 0: 10 1: 10 2: 10 3: 10 6: 10 9: 10 12: 10 15: 10 18: 10 21: 10 24: 10 27: 10 30
These can be made into larger or smaller units with the use of metric prefixes. SI derived units are named combinations – such as the hertz (cycles per second), newton (kg⋅m/s 2), and tesla (1 kg⋅s −2 ⋅A −1) – or a shifted scale, in the case of degrees Celsius. Certain units have been officially accepted for use with the SI.
An input unit can be converted to any number of output units—the outputs are specified as a "combination" by separating unit codes with a space (" ") or a plus ("+"). Using a space as a separator does not work if any of the unit codes contains a space.
Instead, metric units use multiplier prefixes that magnifies or diminishes the value of the unit by powers of ten." The most widely used examples are the units of the International System of Units (SI). By extension they include units of electromagnetism from the CGS and SI units systems, and other units for which use of SI prefixes has become ...