Which statement best describes how prefixes in the metric system relate to the basic units?

• A. Prefixes are used only to name new base units, not to modify existing ones.
• B. Prefixes in the metric system represent different physical quantities, not multiples of units.
• C. Prefixes indicate a specific multiple or fraction of a base unit, changing its magnitude.
• D. Prefixes are added to base units to convert them into non-metric units.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that in the metric system, base units represent fundamental physical quantities such as meter (length), gram (mass), and liter (volume).
2. Recognize that prefixes are attached to these base units to indicate multiples or fractions, which change the magnitude of the unit without changing the physical quantity it measures.
3. Recall common metric prefixes such as kilo- (\$10^{3}\$), centi- (\$10^{-2}\$), and milli- (\$10^{-3}\$), which scale the base unit up or down by powers of ten.
4. Note that prefixes do not create new base units or represent different physical quantities; they simply modify the size of the existing unit.
5. Therefore, the correct understanding is that prefixes indicate a specific multiple or fraction of a base unit, effectively changing its magnitude while keeping the same type of measurement.