Metric-Length Converter
(a long list of metric conversions)
Directions
1. Select the unit to convert from in the input units list. The line containing the selected unit will become highlighted.
2. Select the unit to convert to in the output units list. The line containing the selected unit will also become highlighted.
3. Enter the value to convert from into the input box on the left. The conversion result will immediately appear in the output box.
What the symbols in the results mean
Short explanation: The "e" stands for exponent. So 4.12e+04 is a convenient way of saying 4.12*104, or 4120000. If your result was, for example, 3e-08, then the answer would have been 3*10-8, or 0.00000003
Long explanation: For your convenience, very large and very small numbers are automatically converted to so-called "scientific notation" (also known as standard index notation or exponential notation). For example, the Earth's mass in scientific notation, will be written as 5.9736e+21, converted from the regular 5973600000000000000000000 number and proton mass as 1.6726e-27, converted from the regular 0.0000000000000000000000000016726 number.
To convert from scientific notation to a regular number, shift the decimal point in the coefficient to the right if the number after exponent (e) if it is positive and to the left if it is negative. The number in the exponent tells you the number of positions to shift the decimal point. For example, when 2.2e+4 is converted to a regular number, the decimal point is shifted four positions to the right because the exponent is 4. Thus, 2.2e+4 goes to 22000.
For additional information, go to this page of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Metric-Length Converter
Related "measure" and "metric" words and charts:
meter-, -metric;
Metric Chart of Units;
Metric Units and Links.
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