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Thread: prefixes and powers

  1. #1
    Associate Engineer
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
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    1

    prefixes and powers

    ok so i came across a calculation the other day im not sure i understand and was wondering if someone could help explain it
    ok so according to calculators and Google 10^(-3) = 0.001
    so that means 10^(-3) kg = 1 gram
    so how doesnt 10^(-3)kg = 10 grams


  2. #2
    Kelly_Bramble's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Bold Springs, GA
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    2,625
    Let's re-write 10^(-3)
    it is actually = 1 x
    10^(-3)

    Moving the decimal point to the left three place on the 1 (because the power is -3)

    we get .001 - just like Google calculator

    So,
    10^(-3) kg = 1 x 10^(-3) kg or .001 kg or 1 g

    and

    10^(-3)kg = 1 x 10^(-3)kg = .001 kg = 1 grams

    kg = Kilograms or three places to the right of the decimal point.

    Last edited by Kelly_Bramble; 03-01-2015 at 06:21 PM.

  3. #3
    Senior Engineer
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    58
    Because 10 to the zero power is equal to one, not ten!

    Timelord

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