With lateral resolution _____ numbers are preferable since they indicate more accurate images.

• A. Larger
• B. Smaller
• C. Higher
• D. Lower

Answer: (B)

Lateral resolution is a measure of how finely an image can distinguish details in the lateral direction. It’s typically expressed as a distance—the smallest separation between two points that the system can resolve. The smaller that distance, the more detail you can see, so the images are more accurate. For example, if you can resolve features that are 0.5 micrometers apart, you’ll capture finer details than if you could only resolve 1 micrometer apart. That’s why smaller numbers indicate higher, more accurate lateral resolution. Larger or higher numbers would mean you’re only able to distinguish coarser details, which reduces accuracy.