Hecto-

Hecto- is a unit prefix in the metric system denoting a factor of one hundred (10^2). The prefix was adopted in 1795 and comes from the Greek word "ἑκατόν" (hekaton), meaning "hundred". It is symbolized by the letter "h".

Usage

The hecto- prefix is commonly used in various measurements, particularly in the fields of science, engineering, and agriculture. Some of the most common applications include:

• Hectometer (hm) - A unit of length equal to 100 meters.
• Hectoliter (hl) - A unit of volume equal to 100 liters.
• Hectogram (hg) - A unit of mass equal to 100 grams.
• Hectopascal (hPa) - A unit of pressure equal to 100 pascals.

Examples

• A hectometer is often used to measure distances in geography and land surveying.
• A hectoliter is frequently used in the measurement of agricultural products, such as wine and grain.
• A hectogram is sometimes used in nutrition and dietary contexts to quantify food portions.
• A hectopascal is a standard unit of measurement in meteorology for atmospheric pressure.

Related Prefixes

The metric system includes several other prefixes that denote different factors of ten. Some of these include:

• Deca- (da) - Denoting a factor of ten (10^1).
• Kilo- (k) - Denoting a factor of one thousand (10^3).
• Deci- (d) - Denoting a factor of one-tenth (10^-1).
• Centi- (c) - Denoting a factor of one-hundredth (10^-2).

See Also

• Metric system
• SI units
• Unit prefix
• International System of Units