Arrange the metric prefixes in ascending order of magnitude (smallest to largest): 1) Mega (10^6), 2) Kilo (10^3), 3) Tera (10^12), 4) Giga (10^9). Choose the strictly increasing sequence.

Introduction / Context:
Metric prefixes scale by powers of ten. Knowing their order allows quick comparisons in science and computing. Here we require ascending magnitude. Kilo denotes 10^3, mega denotes 10^6, giga denotes 10^9, and tera denotes 10^12. Sorting by exponents gives a unique increasing sequence.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Kilo (2) = 10^3, Mega (1) = 10^6, Giga (4) = 10^9, Tera (3) = 10^12.
• We ignore other prefixes and focus on these four.

Concept / Approach:
Arrange by exponent value: 10^3 < 10^6 < 10^9 < 10^12. Therefore the correct order is Kilo → Mega → Giga → Tera. Any other arrangement either breaks monotonic increase or swaps adjacent powers incorrectly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Smallest: Kilo (2) = 10^3.Next: Mega (1) = 10^6.Then: Giga (4) = 10^9.Largest: Tera (3) = 10^12.Therefore: 2, 1, 4, 3.

Verification / Alternative check:
Pick a unit (bytes): 1 KB < 1 MB < 1 GB < 1 TB, reinforcing the order for common computing contexts.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• 2, 4, 3, 1 or any order placing giga before mega is incorrect.
• Sequences that place tera anywhere but last violate exponent ranking.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing “giga” and “tera” due to their similar usage in storage; remember giga (10^9) is three orders smaller than tera (10^12).

Final Answer:
2, 1, 4, 3