Question

Write the numerical values for each of the following prefixes: a. centi b. tera c. milli d. deci e. mega f. pico

Short answer

a. 0.01, b. 1,000,000,000,000, c. 0.001, d. 0.1, e. 1,000,000, f. 0.000000000001

Step-by-step solution

- Understand Metric Prefixes

Metric prefixes represent powers of 10 and are used to express large or small quantities in a more readable form. Each prefix has a specific numerical value.

- Centi

Centi, represented by the symbol 'c', is a prefix in the metric system that denotes a factor of 0.01 or 1/100. Therefore, 'centi' equals 0.01.

- Tera

Tera, represented by the symbol 'T', is a metric prefix that denotes a factor of 10^12. Therefore, 'tera' equals 1,000,000,000,000.

- Milli

Milli, represented by the symbol 'm', is a prefix in the metric system that denotes a factor of 0.001 or 1/1000. Therefore, 'milli' equals 0.001.

- Deci

Deci, represented by the symbol 'd', is a metric prefix that denotes a factor of 0.1 or 1/10. Therefore, 'deci' equals 0.1.

- Mega

Mega, represented by the symbol 'M', is a metric prefix that denotes a factor of 10^6. Therefore, 'mega' equals 1,000,000.

- Pico

Pico, represented by the symbol 'p', is a metric prefix that denotes a factor of 10^-12. Therefore, 'pico' equals 0.000000000001.

Key concepts

centi

In the metric system, the prefix 'centi' represents a factor of 0.01 or 1/100. It is commonly used to measure small quantities, such as in centimeters (cm), where one centimeter equals one-hundredth of a meter.
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

The prefix 'tera' stands for a factor of 10^12, or 1,000,000,000,000. This is a trillion times the base unit.
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

In metric measurements, 'milli' signifies a factor of 0.001 or 1/1000. This prefix is often used in scientific contexts to indicate small quantities.
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

The 'deci' prefix represents a factor of 0.1 or 1/10. It is useful for measurements that are one-tenth the size of the base unit.
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

The prefix 'mega' signifies a factor of 10^6, or 1,000,000. It is widely used for large quantities, especially in science and technology.
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

The 'pico' prefix stands for a factor of 10^-12, which is 0.000000000001. This is especially useful in chemistry and physics for very small measurements.
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.