What does the prefix 'micro' represent in scientific notation?

The prefix 'micro' in scientific notation represents a factor of 10 to the power of -6. This means that when you see the prefix 'micro' (which is often denoted by the Greek letter mu, μ), it indicates that the quantity is one millionth of the base unit. For example, 1 microgram is equal to 0.000001 grams, which can be expressed as ( 1 \times 10^{-6} ) grams. This usage of the prefix is standardized in the International System of Units (SI), where each prefix has a corresponding exponential notation. Thus, the option indicating ( 10^{-6} ) accurately reflects what 'micro' signifies in scientific contexts.