Home ❯ All Definitions ❯ Unit ❯ Hecto (h) Unit Definition
Hecto (h) Unit Definition
Hecto is a decimal SI unit prefix in the metric system denoting a factor of one hundred. It was adopted as a multiplier in 1795, and comes from the Greek term Hekaton (ἑκατόν), meaning hundred. It is represented by the prefix hector or the symbol h.
Overview
In 19th century English it was sometimes spelled hecato, in line with a puristic opinion by Thomas Young.
Examples
The hecto prefix is rarely used except in certain specific applications such as:
Hectopascal (hPa), in meteorology, for atmospheric pressure, the modern equivalent of the traditional millibar (mbar).
Hectoliter (hL), in agriculture, for liquids (notably wine and milk) and bulk commodities (e.g., grain).
Hectogram (hg), in agronomy, for quantities of animal feed (hectogram/animal) and for measures of agricultural productivity (hectogram/hectare); also used in Italy abbreviated as etto, and in Canada, New Zealand and Sweden simply as 100 g, for retail sale of cold cuts and meat.
Hectometer (hm), in radio astronomy, occasionally used to indicate a radio band by wavelength.
Hectare (ha), or 100 ares (a), in surveying, as a measure of land area equal to one square hectometer (hm2) 1 hm2 = 10,000 m2.
SI Prefixes
Here is a table of the SI prefixes and some of their properties:
Name & Symbol |
Base 10 |
Decimal |
English Word |
Adoption |
|
Short Scale |
Long Scale |
||||
Quetta (Q) | 1030 |
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Nonillion |
Quintillion |
2022 |
Ronna (R) | 1027 |
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Octillion |
2022 |
|
Yotta (Y) | 1024 |
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Septillion |
Quadrillion |
1991 |
Zetta (Z) | 1021 |
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Sextillion |
Trilliard |
1991 |
Exa (E) | 1018 |
1,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Quintillion |
Trillion |
1975 |
Peta (P) | 1015 |
1,000,000,000,000,000 |
Quadrillion |
Billiard |
1975 |
Tera (T) | 1012 |
1,000,000,000,000 |
Trillion |
Billion |
1960 |
Giga (G) | 109 |
1,000,000,000 |
Billion |
Milliard |
1960 |
Mega (M) | 106 |
1,000,000 |
Million |
1873 |
|
Kilo (k) | 103 |
1,000 |
Thousand |
1795 |
|
Hecto (h) | 102 |
100 |
Hundred |
1795 |
|
Deca (da) | 101 |
10 |
Ten |
1795 |
|
One (1) | 100 |
1 |
One |
- |
|
Deci (d) | 10-1 |
0.1 |
Tenth |
1795 |
|
Centi (c) | 10-2 |
0.01 |
Hundredth |
1795 |
|
Milli (m) | 10-3 |
0.001 |
Thousandth |
1795 |
|
Micro (µ) | 10-6 |
0.000001 |
Millionth |
1873 |
|
Nano (n) | 10-9 |
0.000000001 |
Billionth |
Milliardth |
1960 |
Pico (p) | 10-12 |
0.000000000001 |
Trillionth |
Billionth |
1960 |
Femto (f) | 10-15 |
0.000000000000001 |
Quadrillionth |
Billiardth |
1964 |
Atto (a) | 10-18 |
0.000000000000000001 |
Quintillionth |
Trillionth |
1964 |
Zepto (z) | 10-21 |
0.000000000000000000001 |
Sextillionth |
Trilliardth |
1991 |
Yocto (y) | 10-24 |
0.000000000000000000000001 |
Septillionth |
Quadrillionth |
1991 |
Ronto (r) | 10-27 |
0.000000000000000000000000001 |
Octillionth |
2022 |
|
Quecto (q) | 10-30 |
0.000000000000000000000000000001 |
Nonillionth |
Quintillionth |
2022 |
Other Prefix Unit Definitions
- Atto (a)
- Centi (c)
- Deca (da)
- Deci (d)
- Deka (da)
- Exa (E)
- Exbi (Ei)
- Femto (f)
- Gibi (Gi)
- Giga (G)
- Hecto (h)
- Kibi (Ki)
- Kilo (k)
- Mebi (Mi)
- Mega (M)
- Micro (µ)
- Milli (m)
- Nano (n)
- One (1)
- Pebi (Pi)
- Peta (P)
- Pico (p)
- Qubi (Qi)
- Quecto (q)
- Quetta (Q)
- Robi (Ri)
- Ronna (R)
- Ronto (r)
- Tebi (Ti)
- Tera (T)
- Yobi (Yi)
- Yocto (y)
- Yotta (Y)
- Zebi (Zi)
- Zepto (z)
- Zetta (Z)
Convert to Another Prefix Unit
Related Definitions
Disclaimer
Though every effort has been made to test this unit converter, we are not to be held liable for any special, incidental, indirect or consequential damages or monetary losses of any kind arising out of or in connection with the use of any of the converter tools and information sourced from this website. This unit converter is provided as a service to you, please use at your own risk. Do not use calculations for anything where loss of life, money, property, etc could result from inaccurate unit conversions.
For more information: please see our full disclaimer.
Sources
“Hecto-.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Jan. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hecto-.