Basics of Coordinate Metrology
Unit 1:  Units - Prefixes

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Prefixes for designating the decimal multiple of the units (extract)
Prefixes atto femto pico nano micro milli centi deci deca hecto kilo mega giga tera peta exa
Symbol a f p n µ m c d da h k M G T P E
Factor 10-18 10-15 10-12 10-9 10-6 10-3 10-2 10-1 101 102 103 106 109 1012 1015 1018
In science and technology, the base units are usually given prefixes to arrive at the correct order of magnitude.
Instead of having to write 0.00001 m, it is better to write 1·10-5 m ("or one to the power of ten minus five meters"), or by using the prefix 10 µm. 

In coordinate metrology, especially the prefixes milli (m) and micro (µ) are common, but in the future the prefix for nano (n) will also be common.

  • Conversion:
    • 1000 nm = 1 µm
    • 1000 µm = 1 mm
    • 1000 mm = 1 m
    • 1000 m = 1 km

The "decimal jumps" of this type of representation are explained by the animation opposite.