Which of the following radiographic matrices will create an image with the smallest pixels?

To determine which radiographic matrix will produce the smallest pixels, it is essential to understand the relationship between the matrix size and the pixel dimensions. The matrix size represents the number of pixels along the width and height of the image. A higher matrix size means that there are more pixels to fill the same physical area of the imaging field.

When comparing the different matrix sizes, a matrix of 2048 x 2048 consists of a greater total number of pixels than any of the others listed. This results in smaller individual pixels because the image detail is spread over a larger number of pixels, allowing for higher resolution and finer detail. Therefore, 2048 x 2048 creates the smallest pixels among the options.

In contrast, matrices like 512 x 512 or 256 x 256 have fewer pixels in the same physical area, which means their pixel sizes will be larger, leading to a lower resolution image. Consequently, 2048 x 2048 indeed generates the smallest pixels and yields superior image quality due to increased detail.