Choose the set of numbers from the four alternative sets that is similar to…

In this type of number-set analogy, a set (largest, middle, smallest) is built by applying the SAME two-step rule to the smallest number: square it and subtract 1 to get the middle number, then square that middle number and subtract 1 to get the largest number. A set is a genuine match only when this squaring-and-reducing rule holds in both steps, not just one.

1. Step 1: Apply the rule to the given set (63, 8, 3) to confirm what the rule looks like in practice.

   • 32 − 1 = 9 − 1 = 8, which equals the given set's middle number.

   • 82 − 1 = 64 − 1 = 63, which equals the given set's largest number.

   Both steps hold, so the given set follows the rule across both stages: smallest to middle, and middle to largest.

2. Step 2: Apply the first stage of the rule (square the smallest number, subtract 1) to every option and compare the result with that option's middle number.

   • (10, 3, 2): 22 − 1 = 3, equal to this set's middle number.

   • (1226, 35, 6): 62 − 1 = 35, equal to this set's middle number.

   • (574, 24, 5): 52 − 1 = 24, equal to this set's middle number.

   • (224, 15, 4): 42 − 1 = 15, equal to this set's middle number.

   All four sets pass this first stage, so it alone cannot identify the match — the second stage is needed.

3. Step 3: Apply the second stage of the rule (square the middle number, subtract 1) to every option and compare the result with that option's largest number.

   • (10, 3, 2): 32 − 1 = 8, while this set's largest number is 10.

   • (1226, 35, 6): 352 − 1 = 1224, while this set's largest number is 1226.

   • (574, 24, 5): 242 − 1 = 575, while this set's largest number is 574.

   • (224, 15, 4): 152 − 1 = 224, equal to this set's largest number.

   Only (224, 15, 4) satisfies the second stage exactly, matching both stages of the rule.

Cross-check: Reversing the rule on (224, 15, 4) confirms it independently — the square root of (224 + 1) is 15, and the square root of (15 + 1) is 4, recovering the same set from the top down.

Result: The set (224, 15, 4) follows the same two-step squaring-and-reducing rule as the given set (63, 8, 3), so it is the set similar to the given set.