Correct answer: C. (3)
Explanation: The direct answer is option C, 3 pairs. In A × B, the first entry comes from A={1,2,4} and the second from B={1,3}. We check each first entry against each second entry, keeping the order. For first entry 1, neither (1,1) nor (1,3) has 1 greater than the second entry. For first entry 2, (2,1) works but (2,3) does not. For first entry 4, both (4,1) and (4,3) work. Therefore the required pairs are (2,1), (4,1), and (4,3), making 3 pairs. Option A, 1, misses two valid pairs. Option B, 2, counts only the pairs beginning with 4 and misses (2,1). Option C is correct. Option D, 6, counts all pairs in A × B, since 3×2=6, but the question asks only for pairs satisfying the inequality. Always preserve the coordinate order.