Reference : Metric Prefixes
Prefix in metric system is intended to shorten the writing of a
metric unit. In telecommunication, units are often written with
prefixes. For
example, frequency is given in kHz (kilo Hertz), MHz
(mega Hertz), or GHz (giga Hertz) and bit rate in kbps (kilo bit
per second) or Mbps (mega bit per second).
The following table serves as a reminder to the prefixes in metric
system.
| Prefix |
Factor |
Symbol |
| yotta |
1024 |
Y |
| zetta |
1021 |
Z |
| exa |
1018 |
E |
| peta |
1015 |
P |
| tera
|
1012 |
T |
| giga |
109 |
G |
| mega |
106 |
M |
| kilo |
103 |
k |
| hecto |
102 |
h |
| deka |
101 |
da |
| deci |
10-1 |
d |
| centi |
10-2 |
c |
| milli |
10-3 |
m |
| micro |
10-6 |
μ |
| nano |
10-9 |
n |
| pico
|
10-12 |
p |
| femto |
10-15 |
f |
| atto |
10-18 |
a |
| zepto |
10-21 |
z |
| yocto |
10-24 |
y |
A prefix gives multiplication or subdivision of a certain unit
with the prefix factor. For example, 1 Mbps = 1 x 106 bps
or 1 million bits per second. 1 nm (nanometer) equals 1 x 10-9 meter
or 1 billionth meter.
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