This math skill teaches the metric unit prefixes: kilo, hecto, deca, deci, centi, and milli. Each prefix represents a different power of ten, modifying the base unit by factors of 10 to denote very large or very small quantities. Prefixes are represented by one or two letters.
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Metric unit prefices including kilo, hecto, deca, deci, centi and milli
Test your understanding of metric unit prefices including kilo, hecto, deca, deci, centi and milli by practicing it! Work through the below exercises to use it in practice.
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Let's learn the core metric prefices for kilo, hecto, deca, deci, centi, and milli
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Each prefix is a factor of 10 higher than the one smaller than it. So, for example, kilo is 1000 of the base unit, and centi is one one hundredth of the base unit.
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Each prefix has one or two letters that are always used to represent it. Deca has two, to distinguish it from deci.
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We add the prefix to the thing being measured, like meters for length or grams for weight. So 1 milligram is written 'm' paired with a 'g', and is one one thousandth of a gram
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A simple way to think about these prefices is that they represent powers of 10. This will be useful for very large or very small units.
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A good mneumonic to use is 'king henry died by drinking chocolate milk'