k not roman

[aslan]

 Why do we say a K to mean 1000 where does this come from

[jennymac]

Kilo (symbol: k) is a prefix in the SI system denoting 103 or 1, 000. For example:* kilogram is 1000 grams * kilometre is 1000 metres* kilowatt is 1000 watts* kilojoule is 1000 joulesAdopted in 1795, it comes from the Greek � � � � � � , meaning thousand."Kilo" is often used by itself as an abbreviation for "kilogram

[ali_alic]

I thought it came from roman numerals as it 75K (grand)

 

[bernardo]

jennymac: where did you get the idea of 103 from?  Do you mean 1024? 

ali_alic: Roman numeral for 1000 is M.

[TariqE]

Not 103 but 'ten to the power 3' or 10*10*10

[jennymac]

yes I do mean 10 to the power of 3 but I could not do a small three.

[New Forester]

ali_alic - it's the other way about -- I think k is used in money by extension from the SI use, as if it was "kilopounds".  Usually incorrectly written as a capital though.  But what's wrong with "grand"?