Select the term from among the given options that can replace the question mark (?) in the given series. HM71, JP68, LS65, NV62, ?

Correct — C. Split the term into its three moving parts and run each one on its own.

Rule: first letter +2, second letter +3, number −3.

First letters: H(8) → J(10) → L(12) → N(14), so the next is P(16).
Second letters: M(13) → P(16) → S(19) → V(22), each three ahead, so the next is Y(25).
Numbers: 71 → 68 → 65 → 62, falling by 3, so the next is 59.

P, then Y, then 59 gives PY59 — option (c).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  RX59 — RX59 gets the number right but overshoots on both letters: R is four past N rather than two, and X is two past V rather than three.
• (b)
  QY57 — QY57 has the correct Y, but Q is three past N instead of two, and 57 drops five from 62 where the series drops three.
• (d)
  QX58 — QX58 misses on all three tracks at once: Q is +3 where the first letter moves +2, X is +2 where the second letter moves +3, and 58 drops 4 where the number drops 3.

An alphanumeric series moves more than one thing at a time. The letters and the number are independent tracks, and the quickest route is to write them as separate rows before hunting for any pattern.

Letter gaps are easiest to see as positions: H=8, J=10, L=12, N=14 makes +2 obvious where staring at the letters does not.

The numeric track usually runs on a plain difference, so check the differences first before looking for squares or products.

Key facts

• H=8, J=10, L=12, N=14, P=16 — the first letter track advances +2 at every step.
• M=13, P=16, S=19, V=22, Y=25 — the second letter track advances +3 at every step.
• The number track falls by 3 throughout: 71, 68, 65, 62, 59.

Common traps

• Applying one letter's gap to both letters, which is how QY57 and QX58 get chosen.
• Reading the number difference off the first pair only and never checking it holds across all four given terms.

No directly related past PYQ was found.