Final answer:
In the metric system, abbreviations such as kilometer (km), milligram (mg), nanosecond (ns), and centiliter (cl) refer to multiples or subdivisions of base units, with 'kilo-' meaning 'thousand,' 'milli-' meaning 'one thousandth,' 'nano-' indicating 'one billionth,' and 'centi-' representing 'one hundredth.'
Step-by-step explanation:
Definitions of Unit Abbreviations
The abbreviations for units in the metric system are related to the base units of length, mass, time, and volume.
These abbreviations represent multiples or fractions of base units and are identified by prefixes that indicate their scale.
- Kilometer (km): A kilometer is equal to 1,000 meters, where 'kilo-' is a prefix that stands for 'thousand.' The meter is the base unit of length in the metric system.
- Milligram (mg): A milligram is equal to one thousandth (1/1,000) of a gram, with the gram being the base unit of mass in the metric system. 'Milli-' indicates 'one thousandth.'
- Nanosecond (ns): A nanosecond is one billionth (1/1,000,000,000) of a second, and the second is the base unit of time. 'Nano-' represents 'one billionth.'
- Centiliter (cl): A centiliter is one hundredth (1/100) of a liter, and liter is the metric system's base unit of volume. The prefix 'centi-' means 'one hundredth.'