In the metric system, what does the prefix 'deci-' represent?

The prefix 'deci-' in the metric system represents a factor of 10^-1, or one-tenth. This means that when you see a unit prefixed with 'deci-', such as decimeter, it indicates that there are ten of those units in one meter. In other words, one decimeter is equal to one-tenth of a meter. The metric system uses these prefixes to simplify calculations and conversions among different units, and understanding them is crucial for accurate measurements. This makes 'deci-' a convenient way to express smaller quantities, and it is commonly used in various scientific, mathematical, and everyday contexts.