BECE Mathematics 2026 Paper

Concept:A mapping rule is found by testing every input-output pair in the diagram. The rule must work for all the pairs, not just the first one.Solution:From the diagram the pairs are $1 \to 3$, $2 \to 6$, $3 \to 9$, $4 \to 12$, $5 \to 15$.Each output is $3$ times its input: $3 \times 1 = 3$, $3 \times 2 = 6$, $3 \times 3 = 9$, $3 \times 4 = 12$, $3 \times 5 = 15$.So the rule is $x \to 3x$.Check the other options with $x = 2$:$4 - x$ gives $2$, $x + 2$ gives $4$, $2x + 1$ gives $5$. None of them gives $6$.Key point: $2x + 1$ fits only the first pair ($1 \to 3$); it fails for $2 \to 6$. The previously stored key (D) was wrong; the correct rule is $x \to 3x$.Answer:Option A ($x \to 3x$)