Metric Prefixes to Values Conversion Script

This script converts quantities and metric prefixes to the numbers they represent.  

Example Script: metric_prefixes_to_values

• Enter the metric_prefixes_to_values script into the python.microbit.org/v/2 editor to match this tutorial's screencaptures.
• Update the Script Name field and then click Load/Save → Download Project Hex.
• Click Connect and select the micro:bit and connect if a popup appears.
• Click Flash to load the script into the micro:bit.

# metric_prefixes_to_values

prefix_exponents = {'M':6, 'k':3, 'm':-3, 'u':-6}

print("Enter quantity, metric prefix, and unit.")
print("Result will be a decimal value.")
print()

while True:
    text = input("Enter quantity: ")
    quantity = float(text)
    
    prefix = input("Enter metric prefix: ")
    exponent = prefix_exponents[prefix]
    
    unit = input("Enter unit: ")

    value = quantity * (10 ** exponent)

    digits = str(abs(exponent) + 1)
    
    if value < 1:
        fstr = "%." + digits + "f"
    else:
        fstr = "%" + digits + ".0f"
        
    print("Value:", fstr %value, unit)
    
    print()

Conversion Script Tests

This script converts quantities and metric prefixes to the numbers they represent.  

• Click Open Serial.
• Click to the right of the Enter Quantity prompt, type 1 and then press the Enter key.
• Continue typing the values in the image below to the right of each prompt, and press Enter after each one.

Experiment with Other Values

Here are some you will see in upcoming lessons. 

• Experiment with other values, using the expressions on the left, like 50 ms, 38 kHz and so on.  Substitute ohm for Ω and u for µ.  

• t = 50 ms  —  time is 0.050 seconds
• f = 38 kHz  —   frequency of 38,000 repetitions per second. Because of the micro:bit module’s 32-bit floating point math, you might get a value like 37999 instead.
• I = 1.1 mA  —   current is 0.0011 amps
• V = 5 mV  —  voltage is 0.0050 V
• R = 1 kΩ   —  resistance is 1000 ohms
• C = 10 µF —  capacitance is 0.000010 farads