Metric Prefix Distance Answers

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Compute the absolute, exponential distance between two given prefixes:

16) kilo and femto

103 and 10¯15 give a total absolute distance of 1018

17) milli and micro

10¯3 and 10¯6 give a total absolute distance of 103

18) micro and mega

10¯6 and 106 give a total absolute distance of 1012

19) centi and pico

10¯2 and 10¯12 give a total absolute distance of 1010

20) nano and kilo

10¯9 and 103 give a total absolute distance of 1012

21) deci and tera

10¯1 and 1012 give a total absolute distance of 1013

22) pico and micro

10¯12 and 10¯6 give a total absolute distance of 106

23) kilo and giga

103 and 109 give a total absolute distance of 106

24) femto and centi

10¯15 and 10¯2 give a total absolute distance of 1013

25) milli and centi

10¯3 and 10¯2 give a total absolute distance of 101

Some people are always looking for rules to memorize to help them. Notice that when the two prefixes are from the same side (two negatives or two positives), the answer is the absolute difference between the two. If the two prefixes cross over (as in one positive and one negative), then it is the absolute sum.

OK, but what if the problem involves the base unit, as in "What is the absolute difference between nano and no prefix?" I guess the answer is that it doesn't matter because the absolute difference between 10¯9 and 100 is the same as the absolute sum.

So there!

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