A general statement written in numbers, symbols, or words, that describes how to determine any term in a pattern or relationship.

• A. Theorem
• B. Rule
• C. Formula
• D. Postulate

Answer: (B)

A rule is the general instruction for how to obtain any term in a pattern. It describes the method you apply to generate terms, not just a single calculation. A theorem is a statement that has to be proven from other facts, a postulate is an assumption accepted without proof, and a formula is a specific equation that directly gives a term from its position or previous terms. Because the prompt is asking for the overarching method to determine every term in the pattern, the best fit is a rule—the instruction that tells you how to generate terms consistently.