To express a quantity in a different metric prefix that what it was originally given, all we need to do is skip the decimal point to the right or to the left as needed. Notice that the metric prefix "number line" in the previous section was laid out from larger to smaller, right to left. This layout was purposely chosen to make it easier to remember which direction you need to skip the decimal point for any given conversion.

I think what it should say is:

To express a quantity in a different metric prefix that what it was originally given, all we need to do is skip the decimal point to the right or to the left as needed. Notice that the metric prefix "number line" in the previous section was laid out from larger to smaller, LEFT to RIGHT. This layout was purposely chosen to make it easier to remember which direction you need to skip the decimal point for any given conversion.


This is because the larger numers were to the right and the smaller to the left. I do believe it was written backwards by mistake.

 

Thanks for pointing out the correction to the text. The master copy at ibiblio.org has been updated.