Sandy Wood
Brain Game: Buy a Vowel
by Sandy Wood - November 18, 2009 - 7:30 AM

THE SOLUTION:

E.

Technically, the letters represent “the first six entries in the International System of Units prefixes for unit multiples.” But if you don’t speak geek:

They stand for 1,000 times the next-lowest units of measurement.

K = kilo (1,000 units)
M = mega (1000K units)
G = giga (1000M units)
T = tera (1000G units)
P = peta (1000T units)… then our answer is:
E = exa (1000P units).

NOTE: In binary systems (like those used for computer memory), the multiple is 1024 instead of 1000, but the prefixes are the same.

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