{"id":479,"date":"2023-01-06T15:03:44","date_gmt":"2023-01-06T20:03:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/alfm4\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=479"},"modified":"2025-09-19T17:23:01","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T21:23:01","slug":"the-prefixes","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/alfm4\/chapter\/the-prefixes\/","title":{"raw":"Topic B: The Prefixes","rendered":"Topic B: The Prefixes"},"content":{"raw":"The metric system uses the base units gram, metre, and litre. It would not be practical to use only the base units because sometimes the unit would be far too large and other times it would be too small.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>If your weight was written in grams, it might be <strong>60<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span> g<\/strong> \u2013 that sounds massive!<\/li>\r\n \t<li>The distance from Vancouver to Montreal is approximately <strong>4<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">800<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span> m<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>To measure a sewing seam or to select a wrench using only metres would mean using decimal amounts such as <strong>0.007 m<\/strong> for a wrench and <strong>0.015 m<\/strong> for the seam allowance on a dress.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThese measures would all be correct but inconvenient to use. They would be easier to understand as:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Your weight is <strong>60 kg.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>The distance from Vancouver to Montreal is approximately <strong>4<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">800<\/span> km.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>A <strong>7 mm<\/strong> wrench and <strong>1.5<\/strong> cm for a seam allowance.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThe metric prefixes are similar to the [pb_glossary id=\"693\"]place values[\/pb_glossary] in our number system. The prefix in front of a base unit tells how many of the base unit. Each prefix can be combined with almost any unit.\r\n\r\nYou will need to memorize the most common prefixes, their symbols, and their meaning.\r\n\r\nIn our everyday life and studies, we use only a few of these prefixes. However, it is interesting to look at the pattern of the prefixes and compare their pattern to the place value that you know so well.\r\n\r\nThe ones to memorize are marked with an *.\r\n<table class=\"grid\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 248px;\" border=\"0\"><caption>A Chart of the SI Prefixes<\/caption>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\r\n<th style=\"height: 18px;\" scope=\"col\">Prefix<\/th>\r\n<th style=\"height: 18px;\" scope=\"col\">Symbol<\/th>\r\n<th style=\"height: 18px;\" scope=\"col\">Number of Base Units<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">terra<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">T<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">1<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">giga<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">G<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">1<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">mega<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">M<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">1<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 14px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 14px;\">kilo*<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 14px;\">k<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 14px;\">1<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">hecto*<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">h<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">100<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">deca*<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">da<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">10<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">no prefix<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">base<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">1<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">deci*<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">d<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">0.1<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">centi*<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">c<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">0.01<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">milli*<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">m<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">0.001<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">micro<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">\u03bc<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">0.000<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">001<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">nano<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">0.000<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">001<\/span><\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">pico<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">o<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">0.000<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">001<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Exercise 1<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nUse the <strong>Prefix Chart<\/strong> to answer these questions.\r\n<ol type=\"a\">\r\n \t<li>Give the meaning and symbol for deca. <em>Deca means ten base units.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Give the meaning and symbol for hecto.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Give the meaning and symbol for kilo.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Write the symbols for these units: metre, gram, litre<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Look at the prefixes<\/strong> <em>deci<\/em>, <em>centi, milli, <\/em>(and also <em>micro, nano, pico<\/em>). These prefixes tell you that the measurement is <strong>less than the base unit<\/strong>; they give a fraction of the base unit.\r\n<ol type=\"i\">\r\n \t<li>deci means: <em>one tenth of the unit<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li>centi means:<\/li>\r\n \t<li>milli means:<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nAs a memory helper, notice that these three units which give a fraction of the base unit, all end with the letter <strong>i<\/strong>. You already know that <em>centi<\/em> is the Latin word for one-hundredth, and that one cent is one hundredth of a dollar.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Prefixes have been combined with base units in this exercise. Write the meaning and the symbol. The first two questions are done as examples.\r\n<ol type=\"i\">\r\n \t<li>centimetre: <em>one hundredth of a metre, cm<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li>decagram: <em>ten grams, dag<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li>kilogram:<\/li>\r\n \t<li>hectometre:<\/li>\r\n \t<li>millilitre:<\/li>\r\n \t<li>kilometre:<\/li>\r\n \t<li>hectolitre:<\/li>\r\n \t<li>decametre:<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<strong>Answers to Exercise 1<\/strong>\r\n<ol type=\"a\">\r\n \t<li>deca means ten base units. <strong>da<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>hecto means 100 base units.<strong> h<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>kilo means 1000 base units. <strong>k <\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>metre m gram g litre. <strong>L<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<ol type=\"i\">\r\n \t<li>deci means one tenth of the unit<\/li>\r\n \t<li>centi means one-hundredth of the unit<\/li>\r\n \t<li>milli means one thousandth of the unit<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<ol class=\"twocolumn\" type=\"i\">\r\n \t<li>one hundredth of a metre <strong>cm <\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>ten grams <strong>dag<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>thousand grams <strong>kg <\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>hundred metres <strong>hm<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>one thousandth of a litre <strong>mL <\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>thousand metres <strong>km<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>hundred litres <strong>hL <\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>ten metres <strong>dam<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Exercise 2<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<table class=\"grid\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"0\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th scope=\"col\">Symbol<\/th>\r\n<th scope=\"col\">Word Name<\/th>\r\n<th scope=\"col\">Meaning<\/th>\r\n<th scope=\"col\">Measures<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>kL<\/td>\r\n<td>kilolitre<\/td>\r\n<td>one thousand litres<\/td>\r\n<td>capacity<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>hm<\/td>\r\n<td>hectometre<\/td>\r\n<td>one hundred metres<\/td>\r\n<td>distance<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>dg<\/td>\r\n<td>decigram<\/td>\r\n<td>one tenth of a gram<\/td>\r\n<td>mass<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>mm<\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>daL<\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>kg<\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>m<\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>mL<\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>dag<\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>cL<\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>cm<\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>hL<\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>hg<\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<strong>Answers to Exercise 2<\/strong>\r\n<table class=\"grid\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 221px;\" border=\"0\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\r\n<th style=\"height: 16px;\" scope=\"col\">Symbol<\/th>\r\n<th style=\"height: 16px;\" scope=\"col\">Word Name<\/th>\r\n<th style=\"height: 16px;\" scope=\"col\">Meaning<\/th>\r\n<th style=\"height: 16px;\" scope=\"col\">Measures<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 13px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 13px;\">kL<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 13px;\">kilolitre<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 13px;\">one thousand litres<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 13px;\">capacity<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hm<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hectometre<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">one hundred metres<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">distance<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">dg<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">decigram<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">one tenth of a gram<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">mass<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">mm<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">millimetre<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">one thousandth of a metre<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">distance<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">daL<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">decalitre<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">ten litres<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">capacity<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">kg<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">kilogram<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">thousand grams<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">mass<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">m<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">metre<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">one metre<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">distance<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">mL<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">millilitre<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">one thousandth of a litre<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">capacity<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">dag<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">decagram<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">ten grams<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">mass<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">cL<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">centilitre<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">one hundredth of a litre<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">capacity<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">cm<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">centimetre<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">one hundredth of a metre<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">distance<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hL<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hectolitre<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hundred litres<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">capacity<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hg<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hectogram<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hundred grams<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">mass<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<p>The metric system uses the base units gram, metre, and litre. It would not be practical to use only the base units because sometimes the unit would be far too large and other times it would be too small.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If your weight was written in grams, it might be <strong>60<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span> g<\/strong> \u2013 that sounds massive!<\/li>\n<li>The distance from Vancouver to Montreal is approximately <strong>4<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">800<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span> m<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>To measure a sewing seam or to select a wrench using only metres would mean using decimal amounts such as <strong>0.007 m<\/strong> for a wrench and <strong>0.015 m<\/strong> for the seam allowance on a dress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These measures would all be correct but inconvenient to use. They would be easier to understand as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your weight is <strong>60 kg.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>The distance from Vancouver to Montreal is approximately <strong>4<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">800<\/span> km.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>A <strong>7 mm<\/strong> wrench and <strong>1.5<\/strong> cm for a seam allowance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The metric prefixes are similar to the <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_479_693\">place values<\/a> in our number system. The prefix in front of a base unit tells how many of the base unit. Each prefix can be combined with almost any unit.<\/p>\n<p>You will need to memorize the most common prefixes, their symbols, and their meaning.<\/p>\n<p>In our everyday life and studies, we use only a few of these prefixes. However, it is interesting to look at the pattern of the prefixes and compare their pattern to the place value that you know so well.<\/p>\n<p>The ones to memorize are marked with an *.<\/p>\n<table class=\"grid\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 248px;\">\n<caption>A Chart of the SI Prefixes<\/caption>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\n<th style=\"height: 18px;\" scope=\"col\">Prefix<\/th>\n<th style=\"height: 18px;\" scope=\"col\">Symbol<\/th>\n<th style=\"height: 18px;\" scope=\"col\">Number of Base Units<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">terra<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">T<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">1<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">giga<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">G<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">1<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">mega<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">M<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">1<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 14px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 14px;\">kilo*<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 14px;\">k<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 14px;\">1<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">hecto*<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">h<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">100<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">deca*<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">da<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">no prefix<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">base<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">deci*<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">d<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">0.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">centi*<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">c<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">0.01<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">milli*<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">m<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">0.001<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">micro<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">\u03bc<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">0.000<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">001<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">nano<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">n<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">0.000<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">001<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 18px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">pico<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">o<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 18px;\">0.000<span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">000<\/span><span style=\"margin-left: 0.25em;\">001<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Exercise 1<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>Use the <strong>Prefix Chart<\/strong> to answer these questions.<\/p>\n<ol type=\"a\">\n<li>Give the meaning and symbol for deca. <em>Deca means ten base units.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Give the meaning and symbol for hecto.<\/li>\n<li>Give the meaning and symbol for kilo.<\/li>\n<li>Write the symbols for these units: metre, gram, litre<\/li>\n<li><strong>Look at the prefixes<\/strong> <em>deci<\/em>, <em>centi, milli, <\/em>(and also <em>micro, nano, pico<\/em>). These prefixes tell you that the measurement is <strong>less than the base unit<\/strong>; they give a fraction of the base unit.\n<ol type=\"i\">\n<li>deci means: <em>one tenth of the unit<\/em><\/li>\n<li>centi means:<\/li>\n<li>milli means:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>As a memory helper, notice that these three units which give a fraction of the base unit, all end with the letter <strong>i<\/strong>. You already know that <em>centi<\/em> is the Latin word for one-hundredth, and that one cent is one hundredth of a dollar.<\/li>\n<li>Prefixes have been combined with base units in this exercise. Write the meaning and the symbol. The first two questions are done as examples.\n<ol type=\"i\">\n<li>centimetre: <em>one hundredth of a metre, cm<\/em><\/li>\n<li>decagram: <em>ten grams, dag<\/em><\/li>\n<li>kilogram:<\/li>\n<li>hectometre:<\/li>\n<li>millilitre:<\/li>\n<li>kilometre:<\/li>\n<li>hectolitre:<\/li>\n<li>decametre:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Answers to Exercise 1<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol type=\"a\">\n<li>deca means ten base units. <strong>da<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>hecto means 100 base units.<strong> h<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>kilo means 1000 base units. <strong>k <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>metre m gram g litre. <strong>L<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>\n<ol type=\"i\">\n<li>deci means one tenth of the unit<\/li>\n<li>centi means one-hundredth of the unit<\/li>\n<li>milli means one thousandth of the unit<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<ol class=\"twocolumn\" type=\"i\">\n<li>one hundredth of a metre <strong>cm <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>ten grams <strong>dag<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>thousand grams <strong>kg <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>hundred metres <strong>hm<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>one thousandth of a litre <strong>mL <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>thousand metres <strong>km<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>hundred litres <strong>hL <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>ten metres <strong>dam<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Exercise 2<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<table class=\"grid\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\">Symbol<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Word Name<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Meaning<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Measures<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>kL<\/td>\n<td>kilolitre<\/td>\n<td>one thousand litres<\/td>\n<td>capacity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>hm<\/td>\n<td>hectometre<\/td>\n<td>one hundred metres<\/td>\n<td>distance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>dg<\/td>\n<td>decigram<\/td>\n<td>one tenth of a gram<\/td>\n<td>mass<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>mm<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>daL<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>kg<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>m<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>mL<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>dag<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>cL<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>cm<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>hL<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>hg<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Answers to Exercise 2<\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"grid\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 221px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\n<th style=\"height: 16px;\" scope=\"col\">Symbol<\/th>\n<th style=\"height: 16px;\" scope=\"col\">Word Name<\/th>\n<th style=\"height: 16px;\" scope=\"col\">Meaning<\/th>\n<th style=\"height: 16px;\" scope=\"col\">Measures<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 13px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 13px;\">kL<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 13px;\">kilolitre<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 13px;\">one thousand litres<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 13px;\">capacity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hm<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hectometre<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">one hundred metres<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">distance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">dg<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">decigram<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">one tenth of a gram<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">mass<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">mm<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">millimetre<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">one thousandth of a metre<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">distance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">daL<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">decalitre<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">ten litres<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">capacity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">kg<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">kilogram<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">thousand grams<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">mass<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">m<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">metre<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">one metre<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">distance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">mL<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">millilitre<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">one thousandth of a litre<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">capacity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">dag<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">decagram<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">ten grams<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">mass<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">cL<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">centilitre<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">one hundredth of a litre<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">capacity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">cm<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">centimetre<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">one hundredth of a metre<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">distance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hL<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hectolitre<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hundred litres<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">capacity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 16px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hg<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hectogram<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">hundred grams<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 16px;\">mass<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\" id=\"definition\">definition<\/span><template id=\"term_479_693\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_479_693\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>We understand numbers by the way the digits (numerals) are arranged in relationship to each other and to the decimal point. Each position has a certain value. Our number system is a <strong>decimal system<\/strong>. The place value is based on <strong>ten<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><\/div>","protected":false},"author":123,"menu_order":8,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-479","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":472,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/alfm4\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/alfm4\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/alfm4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/alfm4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/123"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/alfm4\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/479\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":989,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/alfm4\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/479\/revisions\/989"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/alfm4\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/472"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/alfm4\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/479\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/alfm4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/alfm4\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=479"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/alfm4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=479"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/alfm4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}