AI-generated practice question — model-generated for extra practice, not a previous-year CBSE board question.
(B) The image is virtual, erect and diminished.
Since m = +0.5, the positive value indicates the image is virtual and erect, and |m| = 0.5 < 1 indicates the image is diminished.
For spherical mirrors, m = −v/u. A positive value of m means the image is virtual and erect (as stated in section 9.2.4: "A positive sign in the value of the magnification indicates that the image is virtual"). A magnitude less than 1 (|m| = 0.5) means the image is diminished. This matches a convex mirror, which always forms virtual, erect, diminished images.