Unit Prefixes
Prefixes are a way to tell small numbers from big numbers. They are basically well know letters that when by a number, i.e. 10k, mean something.
The table below show all the important prefixes to know when building a tube amplifier. The way to calculate the actual number is show in the second table on this page.
Prefix Table
| Prefix | Name | Multiplication Factor (Exponential Form) | Multiplication Factor (Normal Form) |
|---|---|---|---|
| M | Mega |
10^6 |
1,000,000 |
| k | kilo |
10^3 |
1,000 |
| none | none |
1 |
1 |
| m | milli |
10^-3 |
0.001 |
| u | micro |
10^-6 |
0.000 001 |
| n | nano |
10^-9 |
0.000 000 001 |
| p | pico |
10^-12 |
0.000 000 000 001 |
Prefix Table
Unit with prefix |
Prefix |
Unit Name |
Multiplication Factor |
Multiplication Step |
Final Unit without prefix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10kV |
k |
Volts |
1,000 |
10*1,000 |
10,000 volts |
20mA |
m |
Amps |
.001 |
20*.001 |
.020 amps |
500M Ohms |
M |
Ohms |
1,000,000 |
500*1,000,000 |
500,000,000 Ohms |
x
x