What does the prefix "kilo" represent in powers of ten?

The prefix "kilo" is derived from the Greek word "khilioi," meaning one thousand. In the International System of Units (SI), "kilo" corresponds to a factor of 1,000, which can be expressed in exponential form as 10 to the power of 3. This means that when you see "kilo" in front of a unit—like kilogram (kg) or kilometer (km)—it indicates a multiplication by 1,000 of that unit. For example, there are 1,000 grams in a kilogram, and there are 1,000 meters in a kilometer. Therefore, the correct representation of "kilo" in powers of ten is indeed 10^3.