Final answer:
The terms can be arranged in increasing order of extension: pencil, mechanical pencil, 0.5 mm mechanical pencil, writing instrument.
Step-by-step explanation:
The terms can be arranged in increasing order of extension as follows:
- Pencil
- Mechanical pencil
- 0.5 mm mechanical pencil
- Writing instrument
The pencil is the basic writing tool, while the mechanical pencil has a retractable lead that can be extended as needed. The 0.5 mm mechanical pencil refers to a specific size of the lead, which is narrower than a regular mechanical pencil. Lastly, a writing instrument is a general term that encompasses both pencils and other tools used for writing.