What does the prefix "centi-" indicate about the size of a centimeter? A centimeter is equal to:

• A. 1/1000 of a meter
• B. 1/10 of a meter
• C. 1/100 of a meter
• D. 10 meters

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the prefix "centi-" is a metric prefix used to denote a fraction of a base unit.
2. Recall that the metric system prefixes are based on powers of ten, where "centi-" specifically means one hundredth.
3. Express this relationship mathematically: \$1 \text{ centimeter} = \frac{1}{100} \text{ meter}$.
4. Compare this to other prefixes: for example, "milli-" means \(\frac{1}{1000}\) and "deci-" means \(\frac{1}{10}\), which helps clarify the difference.
5. Conclude that a centimeter is exactly one hundredth of a meter, or \$0.01$ meters.