Here's how it works:

* Base unit: The fundamental unit of measurement (like meter, gram, liter) is considered 10⁰, or 1.

* Prefixes: Each prefix represents a specific power of ten, multiplying or dividing the base unit by that power.

For example:

* Kilo (k) means 10³, or 1000

* Milli (m) means 10⁻³, or 0.001

Therefore, 1 kilometer is equal to 1000 meters, and 1 milliliter is equal to 0.001 liters.