Mega
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Mega (symbol M) is a SI prefix in the SI system of units denoting a factor of 106, i.e. one million; 1 000 000.
Confirmed in 1960, it comes from the Greek μέγας, meaning great.
For example, 1 MW (megawatt) = 1 000 000 watts = 1 000 kilowatts.
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Other common examples of usage
- one megaton [of TNT] (a unit often used in measuring the explosive power of nuclear weapons) is 1 000 000 tTNT.
- Megahertz - frequency of electromagnetic radiation for radio and televion broadcasting, GSM, etc. 1 MHz = 1 000 000 Hz
Computing
In computing, mega can sometimes denote 1 048 576 (220) of information units (example: a megabyte, a megaword), but can denote 1 000 000 (106) of other quantities, for example, transfer rates: 1 megabit/s = 1 000 000 bit/s.
The prefix mebi has been suggested as an alternative for 220 to avoid ambiguity, but is yet to be widely used.
See also
External links
- BIPM website (http://www.bipm.org)
Other uses for the word Mega
- The prefix "mega-" (or "megalo-") also means "large", coming from a Greek word with that exact meaning. An example of a word with "mega" meaning large is Megalosaurus.
- La Mega is a station in Panama and is on 98.5 FM
- Mega is also the name of a town in Ethiopia
- Mega Channel is also the Greek language terrestrial station of Greece and Cyprus.
- Mega is also a short name for the Chilean TV channel "Red Televisiva Megavisión".ca:Mega
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