1. The metric prexes (micro, pico, nano, . . .

. .) are given for ready reference on the inside front cover of the
textbook (see also Table 1-2).
(a) Since 1 km = 1 10
3
m and 1 m = 1 10
6
m,
1 km = 10
3
m = (10
3
m)(10
6
m/m) = 10
9
m.
The given measurement is 1.0 km (two signicant gures), which implies our result should be
written as 1.0 10
9
m.
(b) We calculate the number of microns in 1 centimeter. Since 1 cm = 10
2
m,
1 cm = 10
2
m = (10
2
m)(10
6
m/m) = 10
4
m.
We conclude that the fraction of one centimeter equal to 1.0 m is 1.0 10
4
.
(c) Since 1 yd = (3 ft)(0.3048 m/ft) = 0.9144 m,
1.0 yd = (0.91 m)(10
6
m/m) = 9.1 10
5
m.