Prefixes of the Metric System

Metric prefixes chart
Source: Wikipedia

Mnemonic Device

  • Kings Hate Dragons Because Dragons Can't Make Money.
  • Kids Have Dropped Over Dead Converting Metrics
  • Kill Him Dead Or Don't Call Me
  • King Hector Died Mysteriously Drink Chocolate Milk

Explanation

to remember the Metric prefixes, or the decimal ladder, and base unit (Kilo, Hecto, Deca, Base, Deci, Centi, Milli, Micro).

VARIATIONS

  • Great Mighty King Henry Died By Drinking Chunky Milk

    • Giga, Mega, Kilo, Hecto, Deca, Base, Deci, Centi, Milli
  • King Henry Died Bloated Drinking Chocolate Milk

  • King Henry Doesn’t March Down Chocolate Mountains

  • Good Models Know How Dunkin Donuts Can Make U Not Petit

    • Giga, Mega, Kilo, Hecto, Deca, Deci, Centi, Milli, Micro (symbol looks like a "U"), Nano, Pico
  • Kittens Hate Dogs But Do Chase Mice

    • Kilo, Hecto, Deca, Base, Deci, Centi, Milli
  • The Great Medieval Killer Hates Dragons, Dragons Cry More Musically, Now Peep.

  • The Great Mighty King Henry Died By Drinking Chunky Milk, Nes Pa?

    • Terra, Giga, Mega, Kilo, Hecto, Deca, Deci, Centi, Milli, Micro (symbol looks like a "U"), Nano, Pico
  • The Great Mighty King Henry Died Monday Drinking Chocolate Milk Under Neath Pier

  • Yawning Zebras Expect Promptness Towards Great Magnanimous Kings; Determined Centaurs Make Messes, Nicely Pushing Feminism At Zebras' Yearnings.

    • for the prefixes that go from 10^24 -10^-24: Yotta, Zetta, Exa, Peta, Tera, Giga, Mega, Kilo, Deci, Centi, Milli, Micro, Nano, Pico, Femto, Atto, Zepto, Yocto.

This is another way to learn the metric system from milli to mega (as opposed to kilo down to milli);

  • Millipedes and Centipedes ate Daisies on U'r Deck, so Hector Killed Many.
    • Millipedes (milli); Centipedes (Centi); Daisies (Deci); U'r (Unit); Deck (Deca); Hector (Hecto); Killed (Kilo); Many (Mega).

Information from Wikipedia Metric prefix: A metric prefix, or SI prefix, is a unit prefix that precedes a basic unit of measure, to indicate a decadic multiple or fraction of the unit. Each prefix has a unique symbol that is prepended to the unit symbol. The prefix kilo-, for example, may be added to gram to indicate multiplication by one thousand; one kilogram is equal to one thousand grams. The prefix centi-, likewise, may be added to metre to indicate division by one hundred; one centimetre is equal to one hundredth of a metre. Weight: measured in grams, 1kg is one kilogram = 1000 grams ~ approximately 2 lb or 3.3 oz Length/distance: measured in meters, 1km is one kilometer = 1000 meters ~ approximately 1093 yd Volume: measured in liters, 1l is one liter = 1000 milliliter or 1000 ml ~ approximately 2.1134 US pt lqd.