Deca-

Deca-

Deca- is a prefix in the metric system denoting a factor of ten. The prefix comes from the Ancient Greek word "δέκα" (déka), meaning "ten". It is symbolized by the letter "da". The prefix is used in various scientific and technical fields to denote quantities that are ten times the base unit.

Usage in the Metric System

In the International System of Units (SI), the prefix deca- is used to form decimal multiples and submultiples of units. For example:

• 1 decameter (dam) = 10 meters (m)
• 1 decagram (dag) = 10 grams (g)
• 1 decaliter (daL) = 10 liters (L)

Applications

The deca- prefix is commonly used in various fields such as physics, chemistry, and engineering to simplify the expression of large quantities. For instance, in geology, the decameter is often used to measure geological formations.

Related Prefixes

The deca- prefix is part of a series of metric prefixes that denote powers of ten. Some related prefixes include:

• Deci- (d), which denotes a factor of one-tenth (0.1)
• Hecto- (h), which denotes a factor of one hundred (100)
• Kilo- (k), which denotes a factor of one thousand (1,000)

See Also

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

Related Pages

• Decameter
• Decagram
• Decaliter
• Metric prefix
• SI prefix