Choose the figure which is different from the rest of the given figures. (1)…

Concept: In this figure series, each figure contains three concentric shapes an outer, a middle, and an inner shape. In a properly formed figure, the number of sides never repeats between two consecutively nested shapes: the count keeps changing in one consistent direction, either steadily increasing or steadily decreasing, from the outermost shape to the innermost one.

Application: Counting the sides of the outer, middle and inner shape (in that order) in each figure:

1. Figure 2: 5 sides, then 4 sides, then 3 sides - decreasing by exactly one at each step, never repeating.

2. Figure 3: 3 sides, then 4 sides, then a shape with clearly more sides again (a rounded, many-sided shape) - steadily increasing, never repeating.

3. Figure 4: 6 sides, then 5 sides, then 4 sides - decreasing by exactly one at each step, never repeating.

4. Figure 5: 4 sides, then 5 sides, then 6 sides - increasing by exactly one at each step, never repeating.

5. Figure 1: 4 sides, then 4 sides again, then 6 sides - the outer and middle shapes tie at four sides, so the side count does not change at that step; only after the tie does it jump to six. This breaks the steady increasing or decreasing pattern that every other figure follows.

Cross-check: Re-counting the sides confirms Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 each keep changing their side count in one direction at every step, never repeating. Only Figure 1 repeats the same side count (four) between its outer and middle shapes before jumping to six, so it is the only figure that is not steadily increasing or decreasing throughout.

Answer: Figure 1 (option 1) is different from the rest.