Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
NOTES TO TABLES B.1 AND B.2
1. Prefixes are used to designate multiples or submultiples of units.
Prefix
Multiplier
Symbol
Examples
10
6
mega
M
megahertz (MHz)
10
3
kilo
k
kilowatt (kW)
10
-2
centi
c
centimeter (cm)
10
-3
milli
m
millisecond (ms)
10
-6
micro
μ
microvolt (
μ
V)
2. (a) When a compound unit is formed by multiplication of two or more
units, the symbol for the compound unit can be indicated as follows:
N
·
m or N m, but not Nm
(b) When a compound unit is formed by dividing one unit by another,
the symbol for the compound unit can be indicated as follows:
kg/m
3
or as a product of kg and m
−
3
,kg
m
−
3
·
3. Because the symbol for second is s, not sec, the pluralization of symbols
should not be done; for example, kgs may be mistaken for kg
·
s, or
cms may be mistaken for cm
·
s.