SI Prefixes Decreasing in Multiplier Value

Steps:

• Recall SI prefix multipliers: kilo = 10³, deci = 10⁻¹, centi = 10⁻², milli = 10⁻³, pico = 10⁻¹².
• Compare values left to right for each option to check for decreasing order.
• Option A: 10⁻² < 10⁻¹ > 10⁻³, not decreasing.
• Option D: 10³ > 10⁻³ > 10⁻¹², decreasing across scales.

Why D is correct:

• Per SI unit definitions, prefix multipliers decrease from 10³ (kilo) to 10⁻³ (milli) to 10⁻¹² (pico), reducing magnitude left to right.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Increases from centi (10⁻²) to deci (10⁻¹).
• B: Limited to sub-base prefixes (all <1), not spanning large-to-small scales like D.
• C: Increases sharply from pico (10⁻¹²) to kilo (10³).

Final answer: D