Which of the following would decrease patient exposure and increase the quality of the x-ray beam?

Increased filtration effectively decreases patient exposure while simultaneously enhancing the quality of the X-ray beam. Filtration refers to the use of materials, typically aluminum, placed in the path of the X-ray beam to absorb low-energy photons that contribute little to diagnostic quality. By removing these lower-energy photons, filtration increases the overall average energy of the X-ray beam, which improves image quality and reduces the likelihood of the patient receiving unnecessary radiation.

Higher quality beams penetrate tissues more effectively, leading to clearer images with a higher contrast, while also minimizing the amount of scattered radiation that contributes to patient exposure. This makes filtration a fundamental mechanism in radiographic imaging, balancing the need for high-quality images with patient safety by limiting unnecessary radiation dosage.