Centi

Centi is a prefix in the metric system denoting a factor of one hundredth (1/100). The prefix was adopted in 1795, and comes from the Latin word centum, meaning "hundred". It is primarily used in the International System of Units (SI) to form decimal submultiples of units.

Usage

The centi prefix is commonly used in various measurements, particularly in the fields of science, engineering, and medicine. Some of the most frequently encountered units with the centi prefix include:

• Centimeter (cm) - A unit of length equal to one hundredth of a meter.
• Centiliter (cL) - A unit of volume equal to one hundredth of a liter.
• Centigram (cg) - A unit of mass equal to one hundredth of a gram.

Examples

• A centimeter is often used to measure small lengths, such as the dimensions of a piece of paper or the height of a person.
• A centiliter is used in measuring small volumes of liquid, such as the amount of a beverage.
• A centigram is used in measuring small masses, such as the weight of a small object or a dose of medication.

Related Prefixes

The centi prefix is part of a series of prefixes in the metric system that denote various powers of ten. Some related prefixes include:

• Milli (m) - Denotes a factor of one thousandth (1/1000).
• Deci (d) - Denotes a factor of one tenth (1/10).
• Kilo (k) - Denotes a factor of one thousand (1000).

See Also

• Metric system
• International System of Units
• Decimal
• Prefix (unit)