Metric Prefixes

          The table below gives the full range of SI prefixes.

Multiplication Factors     Prefix     Symbol
           
1 000 000 000 000 000 000 = 1018     exa   E
1 000 000 000 000 000 = 1015     peta   P
1 000 000 000 000 = 1012     tera   T
1 000 000 000 = 109     giga   G
1 000 000 = 106     mega   M
1 000 = 103     kilo   k
100 = 102     hecto   h
10 = 101     deka   E
           
1 = 100     the unit
meter, liter, gram   		m L g
           
0.1 = 10-1     deci   d
0.01 = 10-2     centi   c
0.001 = 10-3     milli   m
0.000 001 = 10-6     micro  
0.000 000 001 = 10-9     nano   n
0.000 000 000 001 = 10-12     pico   p
0.000 000 000 000 001 = 10-15     femto   f
0.000 000 000 000 000 001 = 10-18     atto   a


          Metric Conversion Factors

Approximate Conversions to Metric Measures

Length
  Symbol     When You Know     Multiply by     To Find     Symbol  
  in     inches     2.5     centimeters     cm  
  ft     feet     30     centimeters     cm  
  yd     yards     0.9     meters     m  
  mi     miles     1.6     kilometers     km  


Area
  Symbol     When You Know     Multiply by     To Find     Symbol  
  in2     square inches     6.5     square centimeters     cm2  
  ft2     square feet     0.09     square meters     m2  
  yd2     square yards     0.8     square meters     m2  
  mi2     square miles     2.6     square kilometers     km2  
  ac     acres     0.4     hectares     ha  


Mass (weight)
  Symbol     When You Know     Multiply by     To Find     Symbol  
  oz     ounces     28     grams     g  
  lb     pounds     0.45     kilograms     kg  
  sh tn     short tons
(2000 lb)   		  0.9     metric tons     t  


Volume
  Symbol     When You Know     Multiply by     To Find     Symbol  
  tsp     teaspoons     5     milliliters     mL  
  Tbsp     tablespoons     15     milliliters     mL  
  in3     cubic inches     16     milliliters     mL  
  fl oz     fluid ounces     30     milliliters     mL  
  c     cups     0.24     liters     L  
  pt     pints     0.47     liters     L  
  qt     quarts     0.95     liters     L  
  gal     gallons     3.8     liters     L  
  ft3     cubic feet     0.03     cubic meters     m3  
  yd3     cubic yards     0.76     cubic meters     m3  


Temperature
  Symbol     When You Know     Multiply by     To Find     Symbol  
  ° F     degrees Fahrenheit     5/9 (after subtracting 32)     degrees Celsius     ° C  


Approximate Conversions from Metric Measures

Length
  Symbol     When You Know     Multiply by     To Find     Symbol  
  mm     millimeters     0.04     inches     in  
  cm     centimeters     0.4     inches     in  
  m     meters     3.3     feet     ft  
  m     meters     1.1     yards     yd  
  km     kilometers     0.6     miles     mi  


Area
  Symbol     When You Know     Multiply by     To Find     Symbol  
  cm2     square centimeters     0.16     square inches     in2  
  m2     square meters     1.2     square yards     yd2  
  km2     square kilometers     0.4     square miles     mi2  
  ha     hectares
(1000 m2)   		  2.5     acres     ac  


Mass (weight)
  Symbol     When You Know     Multiply by     To Find     Symbol  
  g     grams     0.035     ounces     oz  
  kg     kilograms     2.2     pounds     lb  
 t    metric tons
(1000 kg)   		  1.1     short tons     sh tn  


Volume
  Symbol     When You Know     Multiply by     To Find     Symbol  
  mL     milliliters     0.03     fluid ounces     fl oz  
  mL     milliliters     0.06     cubic inches     in3  
  L     liters     2.1     pints     pt  
  L     liters     1.06     quarts     qt  
  L     liters     0.26     gallons     gal  
  m3     cubic meters     35     cubic feet     ft3  
  m3     cubic meters     1.3     cubic yards     yd3  


Temperature
  Symbol     When You Know     Multiply by     To Find     Symbol  
  ° C     degrees Celsius     9/5 (then add 32)     degrees Fahrenheit     ° F