Assertion (A): The 9^th term of a Geometric Progression (G.P.) 6, −12, 24, −48, … is a positive term.

Reason (R): The value of (−2)⁸ is always positive.

1. (A) is true and (R) is false.

2. (A) is false and (R) is true.

3. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

4. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).