Chapter 1: Problem 43
Write the numerical values for each of the following prefixes: a. centi b. tera c. milli d. deci e. mega f. pico
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
centi
Understanding centi helps in quickly converting units to make sense of measurements involving smaller scales.
For example, if a length is 50 centimeters, it can also be expressed as 0.5 meters.
tera
Tera is mainly used in computing and data storage to denote large quantities, such as in terabytes (TB), where one terabyte equals one trillion bytes.
Using tera as a prefix helps simplify and communicate very large numbers easily. For instance, if a hard drive has a capacity of 2 terabytes, it means it can store 2 trillion bytes of data.
milli
For example, in milliliters (mL), one milliliter is one-thousandth of a liter.
Applying milli as a prefix allows for easier handling and interpretation of tiny amounts. For instance, if a container holds 250 milliliters of liquid, it can also be written as 0.25 liters.
deci
A common usage is in decimeters (dm), where one decimeter is one-tenth of a meter.
Using deci makes it simpler to deal with fractions of units. For instance, if an object is 3 decimeters long, it can easily be converted to 0.3 meters.
mega
For example, in megawatts (MW), one megawatt equals one million watts, and in megabytes (MB), one megabyte equals one million bytes.
Using mega helps in representing vast numbers in a concise form. So, if a power plant generates 5 megawatts, it is equivalent to producing 5 million watts of power.
pico
For instance, picometers (pm) are used to measure atomic-scale distances, where one picometer is one-trillionth of a meter.
Using pico allows for more straightforward communication of extremely small quantities. If a measurement is 3 picometers, it simplifies writing 0.000000000003 meters.