Which of the following lists metric prefixes in order from largest to smallest?

• A. centi, kilo, micro, milli
• B. milli, kilo, centi, micro
• C. kilo, centi, milli, micro
• D. micro, milli, centi, kilo

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the values of the metric prefixes in terms of powers of ten: kilo (k) = 10^{3}, centi (c) = 10^{-2}, milli (m) = 10^{-3}, micro (\mu) = 10^{-6}.
2. Arrange these prefixes by their magnitude from largest to smallest based on their powers of ten.
3. Start with the largest positive power of ten, which is kilo (10^{3}), indicating the largest unit.
4. Next, compare the negative powers: centi (10^{-2}) is larger than milli (10^{-3}), which is larger than micro (10^{-6}).
5. Combine these in order: kilo, centi, milli, micro, which correctly lists the prefixes from largest to smallest.