By Oleksandr Koliakin
Prefixes for measurements are incredibly important. Here are the basic ones (the ones in bold are the most common):
x - any primary/basic unit (e.g. meters or seconds)
p(x) = pico(x) = 1/1000000000000th of (x) = 10^-12
n(x) = nano(x) = 1/1000000000th of (x) = 10^-9
μ(x) = micro(x) = 1/1000000th of (x) = 10^-6
m(x) = milli(x) = 1/1000th of (x) = 10^-3
c(x) = centi(x) = 1/100th of (x) = 10^-2
d(x) = deci(x) = 1/10th of (x) = 10^-1
(x)
k(x) = kilo(x) = 1000(x) = 10^3
M(x) = mega(x) = 1000000(x) = 10^6
G(x) = giga(x) = 1000000000(x) = 10^9
T(x) = terra(x) = 1000000000000(x) = 10^12
P(x) = peta(x) = 1000000000000000(x) = 10^15
Examples:
kg = kilogram = 1000 grams
mm = millimeter = 1/1000th of a meter