Billionth
Encyclopedia
One billionth is the reciprocal
of a billion, which means it has one of two definitions depending on whether the long scale
or short scale
definition is being used.
-speaking countries, a billionth is equal to 0.000 000 001, or 1 x 10-9 in scientific notation
. The prefix for this number is nano
, and is abbreviated as "n" (for example, in electronics, one nanofarad would be written as 1 nF).
. The prefix for this number is pico
, and is abbreviated as "p" (for example, in electronics, one picofarad would be written as 1 pF).
Multiplicative inverse
In mathematics, a multiplicative inverse or reciprocal for a number x, denoted by 1/x or x−1, is a number which when multiplied by x yields the multiplicative identity, 1. The multiplicative inverse of a fraction a/b is b/a. For the multiplicative inverse of a real number, divide 1 by the...
of a billion, which means it has one of two definitions depending on whether the long scale
Long and short scales
The long and short scales are two of several different large-number naming systems used throughout the world for integer powers of ten. Many countries, including most in continental Europe, use the long scale whereas most English-speaking countries use the short scale...
or short scale
Long and short scales
The long and short scales are two of several different large-number naming systems used throughout the world for integer powers of ten. Many countries, including most in continental Europe, use the long scale whereas most English-speaking countries use the short scale...
definition is being used.
Short scale countries
In most EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
-speaking countries, a billionth is equal to 0.000 000 001, or 1 x 10-9 in scientific notation
Scientific notation
Scientific notation is a way of writing numbers that are too large or too small to be conveniently written in standard decimal notation. Scientific notation has a number of useful properties and is commonly used in calculators and by scientists, mathematicians, doctors, and engineers.In scientific...
. The prefix for this number is nano
Nano
Nano- is a prefix meaning a billionth. Used primarily in the metric system, this prefix denotes a factor of 10−9 or . It is frequently encountered in science and electronics for prefixing units of time and length, such as 30 nanoseconds , 100 nanometres or in the case of electrical capacitance,...
, and is abbreviated as "n" (for example, in electronics, one nanofarad would be written as 1 nF).
Long scale countries
In most European countries, a billionth is equal to 0.000 000 000 001, or 1 x 10-12 in scientific notationScientific notation
Scientific notation is a way of writing numbers that are too large or too small to be conveniently written in standard decimal notation. Scientific notation has a number of useful properties and is commonly used in calculators and by scientists, mathematicians, doctors, and engineers.In scientific...
. The prefix for this number is pico
Pico
Pico- is a prefix in the metric system denoting a factor of 10−12 or .Derived from the Italian piccolo, meaning small, this was one of the original 12 prefixes defined in 1960 when the International System of Units was established....
, and is abbreviated as "p" (for example, in electronics, one picofarad would be written as 1 pF).