What does the prefix deka (da) represent in terms of exponential notation?

The prefix "deka" (symbolized as "da") represents a factor of ten raised to the first power, which is expressed in exponential notation as 10^1. This means that when a unit is prefixed with "deka," it is multiplied by 10.

In the context of the metric system, the prefix "deka" is used to denote ten of a given measurement unit. For instance, one dekameter is equal to ten meters. This is a straightforward representation of quantities in the metric scale, which systematically organizes prefixes based on powers of ten.

The other options represent different powers of ten: 10^3 indicates one thousand, 10^2 signifies one hundred, and 10^0 equals one. Each of these prefixes denotes larger or smaller multiples of a base unit, but "deka" specifically corresponds to 10 raised to the first power.