Using and Converting Metric Measures Continued

Metric Prefixes The metric system uses prefixes to show if the units of measurement are larger or smaller than the base unit.

For example, “kilo” means 1,000. “Kilo” and “metre” together make “kilometre” which means 1,000 metres.

Following is a list of metric prefixes along with their abbreviations and meanings.

Kilo (k)

one thousand

1,000

Hecto (h)

one hundred

100

Deca (da)

ten

10

Basic unit (m, g, or l)

one

1

Deci (d)

one tenth

0.1

Centi (c)

one hundredth

0.01

Milli (m)

one thousandth

0.001

The abbreviation for the metric prefix is put with the abbreviation for the base metric unit to show the unit being used.

Example: c (centi) and m (metre) make cm (centimetre) .