š Key Concepts
ā¢ Metric prefixes and their powers of ten
ā¢ The relationship between words like milli, micro, nano, pico
ā¢ How many zeros are in a billionth vs a millionth
š Think About
ā¢ First, recall which common prefix means millionth, and which means thousandth. That lets you rule out at least two options.
ā¢ Compare the remaining prefixes you know (micro, nano, pico) and think about how they step down by factors of 1,000 (10^3).
ā¢ Ask yourself: if micro is 10^-6, what comes next when you go three more decimal places smaller?
ā
Before You Answer
ā¢ Be clear on milli = 10^-3 and micro = 10^-6 before you choose.
ā¢ Check that your choice for nano fits into the sequence: milli, micro, nano, pico, each changing by a factor of 10^3.
ā¢ Verify that the power of ten you pick corresponds to the correct verbal name (thousandth, millionth, billionth, or trillionth).