Difference-halving expectation — identify the odd term Sequence: 445, 221, 109, 46, 25, 11, 4. Which entry is the misfit?

Introduction / Context:
Odd-man-out puzzles often hide a pattern in successive differences. If you expect roughly halving gaps or a smooth decline, any break in that rhythm reveals the odd term. We will analyze the differences to spot the inconsistency.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Series: 445, 221, 109, 46, 25, 11, 4.
• Goal: detect a regular reduction pattern and find where it is violated.

Concept / Approach:
Compute consecutive differences and compare them. A consistent halving/near-halving or steadily tightening decrease should appear; if one step is disproportionately off the expected size, the endpoint of that step is likely the misfit.

Step-by-Step Solution:
445 → 221: −224.221 → 109: −112 (exactly half of −224).109 → 46: −63 (not close to half of −112 which would be −56; this is a notable break).46 → 25: −21 (now much smaller; if previous had been −56, a plausible follow might be −28 or −27).25 → 11: −14; 11 → 4: −7 (these two restore a halving feel: −14 then −7).Thus, the jump to 46 (with −63) disrupts the otherwise near-halving cadence; 46 is the odd term.

Verification / Alternative check:
Had the third difference been −56, the next could have been around −28, then −14, then −7, creating a smooth halving sequence from −224 onwards. The value 46 forces a −63 difference and derails this pattern.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
221 and 109 fit the clean −224 then −112 halving; 25, 11, and 4 fit the smaller tail reductions (−21, −14, −7) more naturally than 46 does.

Common Pitfalls:
Looking only at raw values rather than differences, or accepting any decrease as fine without checking the regularity of the step-size progression.

Final Answer:
46