The document defines the prefixes used in the metric system for expressing units of measurement. It provides the prefix, its abbreviation, what it refers to as a power of 10, and examples of uses. The prefixes covered are mega, kilo, deci, centi, milli, micro, nano, pico, and femto. Larger prefixes like mega refer to multiples of millions while smaller prefixes like pico and femto refer to fractions of units. Examples are given for measurements of length, mass, frequency, and sizes of microscopic objects.

1. Metric
System
Prefixes
Mike Jones
Pisgah High School
Canton NC Revised 021012
“Yes, I got you ten roses. I believe
that the strongest relationships are
based on the metric system.”

2. mega-
kilo-
deci-
centi-
milli-
micro-
nano-
pico-
Metric System Prefixes

3. mega- M Mm
kilo- k km
deci- d dm
centi- c cm
milli- m mm
micro- m mm
nano- n nm
pico- p pm
Metric System Prefixes

4. mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo-
deci-
centi-
milli-
micro-
nano-
pico-
Metric System Prefixes

5. mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci-
centi-
milli-
micro-
nano-
pico-
Metric System Prefixes

6. mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi-
milli-
micro-
nano-
pico-
Metric System Prefixes

7. mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli-
micro-
nano-
pico-
Metric System Prefixes

8. mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro-
nano-
pico-
Metric System Prefixes

9. mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano-
pico-
Metric System Prefixes

10. mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico-
Metric System Prefixes

11. mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)
Metric System Prefixes

12. mega- M Mm 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- k km 1x103 (1000)
deci- d dm 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- c cm 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- m mm 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- m mm 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- n nm 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- p pm 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)
Metric System Prefixes

13. mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)
Metric System Prefixes
Mega-
Megahertz

14. mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)
Metric System Prefixes
Mega-
Megahertz
resistor
Megohm

15. Metric System Prefixes
Kilo-
A “kilo” of cocaine
is a kilogram
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

16. Metric System Prefixes
Kilo-
A “kilo” of cocaine
is a kilogram
kilometer
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

17. Metric System Prefixes
Deci-
Deci … just like in “decimal”… 10
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

18. Metric System Prefixes
Deci-
Deci … just like in “decimal”… 10
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)
A cubic decimeter is a liter

19. Metric System Prefixes
Centi-
Same root as “century”
or 100 years
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

20. Metric System Prefixes
Centi-
Same root as “century”
or 100 years
How many
centimeters
to an inch?
2.54 cm
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

21. Metric System Prefixes
Milli-
“Phelps by a millimeter”
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

22. Metric System Prefixes
Milli-
Has nothing to do with a “million”.
“Phelps by a millimeter”
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

23. Metric System Prefixes
Milli-
Has nothing to do with a “million”.
“Phelps by a millimeter”
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

24. Metric System Prefixes
Milli-
Has nothing to do with a “million”.
“Phelps by a millimeter”
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

25. Metric System Prefixes
Micro- “Micro” is what refers
to a millionth, not
“milli”.
“Micro” means more
than just “small”.
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

26. Metric System Prefixes
Micro-
The sizes of bacteria are
measured in micrometers.
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

27. Metric System Prefixes
Micro- A microwave oven uses
radio waves with
wavelengths measured in
micrometers.
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

28. Metric System Prefixes
Micro- A microwave oven uses
radio waves with
wavelengths measured in
micrometers.
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

29. Metric System Prefixes
Nano-
“Nano” means more than just “really small”.
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

30. Metric System Prefixes
Nano-
The wavelengths of
visible light in are in the
hundreds of nanometers.
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

31. Metric System Prefixes
Nano-
Viruses are in the 10 nm to 200 nm range.
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

32. Metric System Prefixes
Pico-
The sizes of atoms are
measured in picometers.
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

33. Metric System Prefixes
Pico-
The sizes of atoms are
measured in picometers.
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

34. Metric System Prefixes
Femto-
The sizes of the nuclei of
atoms are measured in
femtometers.
1x10-15
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

35. Metric System Prefixes
Femto- Consider an atom which may be
400 pm across, but the nucleus is
less than 20 fm in diameter.
1x10-15
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

36. Metric System Prefixes
Femto- Consider an atom which may be
400 pm across, but the nucleus is
less than 20 fm in diameter.
1x10-15
The nucleus is 20,000 times smaller than an atom!
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

37. Metric System Prefixes
Femto- If we put a dime on the floor to
represent the diameter of the
nucleus, then the edge of the atom
would be about 200 meters away.
1x10-15
17.91 mm
mega- = 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- = 1x103 (1000)
deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

38. mega- M Mm 1x106 (1 million)
kilo- k km 1x103 (1000)
deci- d dm 1x10-1 (1/10)
centi- c cm 1x10-2 (1/100)
milli- m mm 1x10-3 (1/1000)
micro- m mm 1x10-6 (1 millionth)
nano- n nm 1x10-9 (1 billionth)
pico- p pm 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)
Metric System Prefixes