12/3/2022 0 Comments Power of ten for prefixes![]() ![]() The prefixes zetta-, yotta-, zepto-, and yocto- have been included in these tables purely for completeness and giggle value they were adopted in 1990 by the `19th Conference Generale des Poids et Mesures'. Here are the SI fractional prefixes: prefix decimal jargon usagemilli- 1000^-1 (seldom used in jargon)micro- 1000^-2 small or human-scale (see micro-)nano- 1000^-3 even smaller (see nano-)pico- 1000^-4 even smaller yet (see pico-)femto- 1000^-5 (not used in jargon-yet)atto- 1000^-6 (not used in jargon-yet)zepto- 1000^-7 (not used in jargon-yet)yocto- 1000^-8 (not used in jargon-yet) Here are the SI magnifying prefixes, along with the corresponding binary interpretations in common use: prefix decimal binarykilo- 1000^1 1024^1 = 2^10 = 1,024 But when used with bytes or other things that naturally come in powers of 2, they usually denote multiplication by powers of 1024 = 2^(10). With units of time or things that come in powers of 10, such as money, they retain their usual meanings of multiplication by powers of 1000 = 10^3. Here is a number line with the two prefixes in problem sixteen marked:Ĭompute the absolute, exponential distance between two given prefixes:In techspeak and jargon, the standard metric prefixes used in the SI (Système International) conventions for scientific measurement have dual uses. Repeat: you will use the proper exponential value (like 10 5) in a solution to a problem you will NEVER use just the exponent (the 5) in a solution. #Power of ten for prefixes how to#The 5 is only used in descriptions about how to determine the distance. ![]() ![]() In other words, 10 5 is used in the solution to the problem the 5 by itself will never be used. In the problems to follow, the exponential form will be the one used. Done as an exponent, the absolute exponential distance between kilo- and centi- is 10 5. The absolute exponential distance between 3 and -2 is 5, not 1. For example, someone might mentally do the distance between kilo and centi by comparing the exponents of positive 3 and negative 2 and getting one. What you should do is compare the two exponents as if they were placed on a number line made of exponents and the compute the absolute exponential distance between them. The distance between kilo and centi is 10 5. For example, the absolute distance between milli and centi is 10 1. The skill I'm talking about is figuring out the absolute, exponential distance between two prefixes. It is an important skill that goes somewhat untaught, so I've decided to address it. It seems that everybody just assumes students pick it up somewhere in a math class. The reason is that this particular skill isn't really mentioned by chemistry (or physics) teachers. This next set of problems deserves some comment. Problems concerning the exponential distance between two prefixes This makes it a prime target for teachers to test. Given either the name or the symbol of the prefix, give the other:Ī word to the wise: deca- (symbol = da) is a little used unit prefix. Here are only some possible problems (of many): Problems could give any one and ask for one or both of the others. There are three items - name, symbol, and size - that must be known. Notice anything? And, no, I did not copy them. For example, centigram means we are count in steps of one one-hundredth of a gram, μg means we count by millionths of a gram.įor another presentation of these prefixes, please go here. These skills will be necessary in order to correctly convert one metric unit to another.Ī metric prefix is a modifier on the root word and it tells us the unit of measure. Note for the future: you will need to determine which of two prefixes represents a bigger amount AND you will also need to determine the exponential "distance" between two prefixes. There is even someone selling an e-book for metric prefix flashcards. Here is a search for metric prefix flashcards. In order to properly convert from one metric unit to another, you must have the prefixes memorized. A brief discussion of the basic metric units. ![]()
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