Preferred numbers - Series of preferred numbers

First edition - 1973-04-01

FOREWORD
I S 0 (the International Organization for Standardization) i s a worldwide federation
of national standards institutes ( I S 0 Member Bodies). The work of developing
International Standards is carried out through I S 0 Technical Committees. Every
Member Body interested in a subject for which a Technical Committee has been set
up has the right to be represented on that Committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.

Draft International Standards adopted by the Technical Committees are circulated

to the Member Bodies for approval before their acceptance as International
Standards by the I S 0 Council.

Prior to 1972, the results of the work of the Technical Committees were published
as I S 0 Recommendations; these documents are now in the process of being
transformed into International Standards. As part of this process, International
Standard I S 0 3 replaces I S 0 Recommendation R 3-1954 drawn up by Technical
Committee ISO/TC 19, Preferred numbers.

The Member Bodies of the following countries approved the Recommendation :

Australia India Spain

Austria Israel Sweden
Belgium Italy Switzerland
Chile Mexico United Kingdom
Denmark Netherlands U.S.A.
Finland New Zeaiand U.S.S. R.
France Norway Yugoslavia
Germany Portugal
Hungary South Africa, Rep. of

No Member Body expressed disapproval of the Recommendation.

O International Organization for Standardization, 1973 o

Printed in Switzerland
Preferred numbers - Series of preferred numbers

1 SCOPE AND FIELD OF APPLICATION

This International Standard specifies series of preferred numbers.
IS0 3-1973 (E)
3-73 I48sLq03 0039077 or
2 BASIC SERIES OF PREFERRED NUMBERS

Theoretical values
Percentage differences
Basic series Serial betwsen basic
number Mantissae series and calculated
of Calculated values
R 5 R 10 R 20 R 40 logarithms values %

(3) (4) (5) (7)

f,oo 1,o0 1 ,o0 1.o0 O O00 1,oooo 0

1.o6 1 025 1,0593 + 0.07
1,12 1,12 2 O50 1,1220 -o,ia
1,18 3 0’75 1,1885 - 0‘71
1,25 1.25 1,b 4 100 1,2589 - 0,71
1.32 5 125 1,3335 - 1,Ol
1Po 1,40 6 150 1,4125 - 0.88
1,50 7 175 1,4962 + 0,25
1,60 1,60 1,60 1,60 8 200 1,5849 + 0,95
1,70 9 225 1,6788 + 1,26
1.80 1 ,ao 10 250 i,7783 + 1,22
1.90 11 275 i,8836 + 0,87
2.00 2.00 2,00 12 300 1,9953 + 0,24
2,12 13 325 2.1 135 + 0.31
2,24 2.24 14 350 2,2387 + 0,06
2.36 15 375 2,3714 - 0,48
2.50 2.50 2.50 280 16 400 2.51 19 - 0,47
2.65 17 425 2,6607 - 0,40
2,80 2,80 18 450 2.8184 - 0,65
3,OO 19 475 2.9854 + 0.49
3,15 3,15 3,15 20 500 3,1623 - 0,39
3,35 21 525 3,3497 + 0,Ol
335 385 22 550 3,5481 + 0,05
3,75 23 575 3,7584 - 0,22
4m 4,OO 4,oo 4m 24 600 3,981 1 f 0,47
4,25 25 625 4,2170 + 0,7a
4.50 4,50 26 650 4,4668 + 0.74
4.75 27 675 4,731 5 + 0,39
5,w 5,w 5.00 28 700 5,0119 - 0.24
5,30 29 725 5,3088 - 0,17
5,60 5.60 30 750 5,6234 - 0,42
6.00 31 775 5,9566 + 0,73
6,30 6,30 6,30 6,30 32 ao0 6,3096 - 0,15
6,70 33 825 6,6834 + 0,25
7,lO 7,lO 34 850 7,0795 + 0.29
7.50 35 875 7,4989 + 0,Ol
8,oo 8,oo 8.00 36 900 7,9433 + 0’71
8,50 37 925 8,4140 + 1,02
9.w 9,w 38 960 8,9125 + o,ga
9.50 39 975 9,4406 + 0,63
0
10,w 10,w 1o.w 10,oo 40 O00 l0,OOoo

2
3 EXCEPTIONAL R 80 SERIES 4.3 Designation of series
All series of preferred numbers have a designation
commencing with the letter R .
1,o0 1.80 3.15 5,60
1,O3 1.85 3.25 5,ao 4.4 Basic series
1.o6 1.90 3.35 6.00
1.o9 1.95 3.45 6.15 The series figuring in section 2 are those which shall be
1.12 3.55 6,30 normally used. They are distinguished by the symbols :
2.00
1,15 2.06 3,65 6,543
2,12 3.75 6.70
R5 - RIO - R 2 0 - R40
1.18
1,22 2,18 3.87 6.90 The values of the R 5 series are to be given preference over
1.25 2,24 4.00 7.10 those of the R 10 series, these latter over the values of the
1.28 2,30 4,12 7.30 R 20 series and finally these last over those of the R 40
1,32 2.36 4.25 730 series.
1,36 2.43 4,37 7.75
The above symbols suffice if the series is not limited in
1.40 2,50 4.50 8.00 either direction. If this i s not so, the following method of
1 ,e 2,58 4.62 8.25 expression is used to indicate the limits :
150 2.65 4.75 850
1,55 2.72 4,87 8,75 .
R 10 (1,25. - ) series limited to the term value 1,25
1,60 2.80 5,OO 9.00 (inclusive)as the low limit.
1,65
1.70
2,90
3 m
5.15
5.30
9.25
9,50
R 20 ( . .. 45) series limited to the term value 45
(inclusive)as the high limit.
1,775 3.07 5.45 9.75
R 40 (75. . . 300) series limited between the term values
75 and 300 (both values inclusive).

4 COMMENTARY
4.5 Exceptional R 80 series
4.1 Definition of preferred numbers This i s set out in section 3. The terms of the basic series
Preferred numbers are the conventionally rounded off term shall be given preference over the terms of the R 80 series.
values of geometrical series, including the integral powers
of 10 and having as ratios the following factors :
4.6 Derived series

in accordance with the tables in sections 2 and 3 set out for 4.6.1 Series obtained by taking every second, third, fourth
the 1 to 10 range, The series of preferred numbers being or pth term of a basic series
unlimited in both directions, the values of the terms in
other decimal ranges are obtained by multiplying the values These are distinguished by the symbol of the corresponding
in the tables by positive or negative integral powers of 10. basic series followed by the solidus division sign and the
number 2, 3, 4 . . . or p. If the series is limited, the symbol
4.2 Terminology shall include an indication of the limiting terms to be
considered; if it i s not limited, mention shall be made of a t
least one of the terms.
4.2.1 theoretical values : The extended term value of

t"
(z)~,
) ~ , etc.
Examples :

R 512 (1 . . . 1 O00 000) - Series limited by the terms 1

4.2.2 calculated values (see section 2, column 7) : Values and 1 O00 O00 and including both these terms.
approximating to the theoretical values, expressed to 5
significant figures (the relative error in comparison with the .
R 1013 ( . . 80 . . . ) - Series unlimited in both
theoretical values is less than 1/20 000). directions and including the term 80.

R 2014 ( 112 . . . ) - Series limited in the lo wer direction

4.2.3 preferred numbers : Values rounded off in to 112 inclusive.
accordance with columns R 5, R IO, R 20, R 40 and R 80
(see section 2, columns 1 to 4, and section 3). .
R 4015 ( . . 60) - Series limited in the upper direction
to 60 inclusive.
4.2.4 serial numbers : An arithmetic series of consecutive . .
NOTE - The derived series R 1013 (1 , 1, which is obtained,
numbers indicating the preferred numbers starting with O from 1, by taking every third term of the series R IO,comprises the
for the preferred number 1,OO. . . ..
following terms : 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 31,5, Its ratio is about 2.

3
IS0 3-1973 (E)

4.6.2 In general, if
r i s the index of the basic series r = 5, IO, 20 or 40,
p is the pitch of the derived series, ¡.e. the number of
steps in the basic series required to build up the derived
series,
the ratio of the derived series i s
1o plr
On the other hand, if N is a positive integral number, the
term of identification of the derived series is
10 NI40