Notation is a tool so this seems to be the best place to post this query.

We see varying forms of numeric abbreviation. E.G.:

k (abbreviation of kilo) = 1,000 or thousand, as in: Y2K, the Year 200 problem; kb = kilobytes = 1,000 bytes, what they used to rate computers in; km = kilometer = 1,000 meters; $10k = $10,000; and so on.

m (Roman numeral) = 1,000 or thousan, as in: $10m = $10,000.

mm (Roman numerals) = 1,000 x 1,000 = 1,000,000 or million, as in $10mm = $10,000,000.

We seem to know by context that km means kilometer not 1,000 x 1,000. If we're looking at a map we know kilo means kilometer while if we're around hippies or DEA agents we know it means something else. We seem to know in computers that mb means mega or 1,000,000 not 1,000 bytes.

Does any one know if there are preferences or customs (k vs m) in particular fields? Are m and mm preferred in economics and finance (never seem to see kk)? Are these preferences stated anywhere? If it's discretionary should the notation scheme be specifed?

Reply to post by Scott, on December 12, 1998 at 09:23:31:

Scott:
It seems to me that the metric system was actually adopted by many countries as the SI or System Internationale which not only gives the various breakdowns and prefixes, but also recommends which to use. In my experience engineeras and architects use mm to describe dimensions on buildings (I wish they would use metres), while foresters think in metres or kilometres, planners (don't think... no just joking) work with whatever is supplied but often kilometres or metres if land use plannig is involved. Volume typicaly in cubic metres, area in hectares.

Julian

Reply to post by Julian Dunster, on December 12, 1998 at 09:23:31:

Julian,

Thanks for the response. I was thinking less about metric vs. English (km vs. mile or meter vs. yard) than k vs. m for thousand and mm for million whether applied to yards, meters, dollars or chickens. Any established preferences you're aware of?

Scott

Reply to post by Scott, on December 13, 1998 at 22:06:11:

I'm confused what you are getting at, Scott. the prefixes are pretty much standard- kilo is thousand, mega is million, giga is billion. MM is usually interpreted as "millimeter". I don't recall having seen it used to represent "million" of anything.

Reply to post by Russ Carlson, on December 14, 1998 at 06:30:08:

Russ,

The issue I'm inquiring about is the preference (if any) for using k (kilo) or m (Roman numeral) to indicate thousand. You will see mm to indicate million (thousand x thousand), mostly in monetary expression. I'm wondering if m and mm are preferred for monetary expression. You've introduced another question. Is case important: e.g. if mm is milimeter is MM megameter? Is one entirely dependent on context to know if m is meant to indicate milli or mega?

Scott

Reply to post by Scott, on December 14, 1998 at 15:57:55:

And the answer is .... refer to the SI system wghich quite clearly speciofies what and how one should use and write and refer to the various categories and measurements.

Julian

Reply to post by Julian Dunster, on December 14, 1998 at 18:36:45:

To make life easier for those seeking information on the SI system, type in into your web browser and follow the links, which will explain all you ever wanted to know about metric units but never dared to ask.

Julian

Reply to post by Julian Dunster, on December 14, 1998 at 18:36:45:

Julian,

Thanks for the pointer. For anyone interested here's a US link. Great on physical quantities, but rather silent on monetary units. Also, not uniformly adopted in US.

"Note: At this time, only three countries - Burma, Liberia, and the US - have not adopted the International System of Units (SI, or metric system) as their official system of weights and measures." (Central Intelligence
Agency The World Factbook 1996 Appendix E - Weights and Measures
http://mirrors.org.sg/world_facts/wfb-appe.htm

While SI specifies m as abbreviation for meter, even non-US usage may vary. E.G.:

Financial Times (London)uses m for million and bn for billion as applied to currency. See example at http://www.ft.com/hippocampus/qec89a.htm

Wall Street Journal (http://www.wsj.com) and NY Times (http://www.nytimes.com) both avoid confusion by using 'million' and 'billion' and avoiding abbreviation.

Still looking for examples and conventions for m = 1,000 and mm = 1,000,000.

Scott

Reply to post by Scott, on December 16, 1998 at 10:43:14:

Here's another variable.

Washington Post (as WSJ and NYT) uses "x,000" "million" and "billion" in text. Uses k=1,000; M=1,000,000 in charts (no key) and "mil"=1,000,000 in tables.

http://www.washingtonpost.com