Final answer:
The sequence is decreasing by 3 each time.
So option (A) is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The given sequence is 8, 5, 2, 2, 1, -1. Let's analyze the pattern to determine the correct description.
The sequence is decreasing by 3 each time:
8 (start)
8 - 3 = 5
5 - 3 = 2
2 (remains the same)
2 - 3 = -1
-1 - 3 = -4
So, the correct option is:
a) Decreasing by 3 each time.
The sequence follows a consistent pattern of subtracting 3 to obtain the next term. This pattern is evident as we observe each term in relation to the preceding one.
It's important to note that the other options do not accurately describe the observed pattern in the given sequence. There is no consistent alternation between positive and negative numbers, no clear increase or decrease by a fixed amount other than 3, and no evidence of division by 2 in each step.
Therefore, option (a) provides the most accurate description of the sequence's pattern.