Number Series

Numerical Series Examples:
1. Examine the difference between numbers .

→ In a simple series, the difference between two consecutive numbers is constant.
Example: 27, 24, 21, 18, __
Rule: There is a difference of (-3) between each item. The missing number in this case is 15.
→ In a more complex series the differences between numbers may be dynamic rather than
fixed, but there still is a clear logical rule.
Example: 3, 4, 6, 9, 13, 18, __
Rule: Add 1 to the difference between two items. After the first
number add 1, after the second number add 2 and after the third number
add 3, etc. In this case, the missing number is 24.
2. See whether there is a multiplication or division pattern
between two numbers.
Example: 64, 32, 16, 8, __
Rule: Divide each number by 2 to get the next number in

the series.
The missing number is 4.
3. Check whether numbers in the series change based on a

logical pattern.
Example: 2, 4, 12, 48, __
Rule: Multiply the first number by 2, the second number by

3 and the third number by 4, etc. The missing item is 240.
4. See if you can find a rule that involves using two or more
basic arithmetic functions (+, -, ÷, x).
In the below series, the functions alternate in an orderly fashion.
Example: 5, 7, 14, 16, 32, 34, __
Rule: Add 2, multiply by 2, add 2, multiply by 2, etc. The missing

item is 68.
Tip: Series’ in this category are easy to identify. Just look at the
numbers that do not appear to have a set pattern.
Important:
In a series that involves two or more basic arithmetic functions, the

differences between adjacent items effectively create their own series. We
recommend that you try to identify each pattern separately.
Example: 4, 6, 2, 8, 3, __
Rule: In this series, the differences themselves create a series: +2, ÷3, x4, -5
The numbers advance by intervals of 1 and the arithmetic functions change
in an orderly sequence. The next arithmetic function in the series should be
+6, and so the next item in the series is 9 (3+6 = 9).
1. Look at this series:
2, 1, (1/2), (1/4), ................

What number should come next?
A. (1/3) B. (1/8)
C. (2/8) D. (1/16)
Answer: Option B 1/8
Explanation:
This is a simple division series; each number is one-half of

the previous number.
In other terms to say, the number is divided by 2 successively
to get the next result.
4/2 = 2
2/2 = 1
1/2 = 1/2
(1/2)/2 = 1/4
(1/4)/2 = 1/8 and so on.
7, 10, 8, 11, 9, 12, ............

A. 7 B. 10
C. 12 D. 13
Answer: Option B 10
Explanation:
This is a simple alternating addition and subtraction

series. In the first pattern, 3 is added; in the second,
2 is subtracted.
53, 53, 40, 40, 27, 27, .........

A. 12 B. 14
C. 27 D. 53
Answer: Option B 14
Explanation:
In this series, each number is repeated, then
13 is subtracted to arrive at the next number.
1.5, 2.3, 3.1, 3.9, .......
A. 4.2 B. 4.4
C. 4.7 D. 5.1
Answer: Option C 4.7
Explanation:
In this simple addition series, each number
increases by 0.8
80, 10, 70, 15, 60, ....…
A. 20 B. 25
C. 30 D. 50
Answer: Option A 20
Explanation:
This is an alternating addition and subtraction

series. In the first pattern, 10 is subtracted
from each number to arrive at the next. In the
second, 5 is added to each number to arrive
at the next.
6. Find next number :
9 11 33 13 15 33 17 ………
A. 19 33 B. 33 35
C. 33 19 D. 15 33
E. 19 21
Answer: Option A 19 33
Explanation:
In this alternating repetition series, a random

number, 33, is interpolated every third
number into a simple addition series, in
which each number increases by 2.
F2, __, D8, C16, B32.
What number should fill the blank?
A. A16 B.G4
C. E4 D.E3
Answer: Option C E4
Explanation:
The letters decrease by 1; the numbers are
multiplied by 2.
664, 332, 340, 170, ____, 89.
A. 85 B. 97
C. 109 D. 178
Answer: Option D 178
Explanation:
This is an alternating division and addition series: First, divide by 2, and then add 8.
4, 7, 25, 10, __, 20, 16, 19, 15
A. 13 B. 15
C. 20 D. 28
Answer: Option A 13
Explanation:
Two series alternate here, with every third number

following a different pattern. In the main series, 3 is
added to each number to arrive at the next. In the
alternating series, 5 is subtracted from each number
to arrive at the next.
8, 6, 9, 23, 87 , ......
A. 128 B. 226
C. 324 D. 429
Answer: Option D 429
Explanation:
8x1-2=6
6x2-3=9
9 x 3 - 4 = 23
23 x 4 - 5 = 87
87 x 5 - 6 = 429 ...
2, 6, 18, 54, ......

A. 108 B. 148
C. 162 D. 216
Answer: Option C 162
Explanation:
This is a simple multiplication series. Each number is 3 times more than the previous number.
80, 10, 70, 15, 60, …...
A. 20 B. 25
C. 30 D. 50
Answer: Option A 20
Explanation:
This is an alternating addition and subtraction

series. In the first pattern, 10 is subtracted
from each number to arrive at the next. In the
second, 5 is added to each number to arrive
at the next.
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13
(a) 15 (b) 17
(c) 18 (d) 19
Answer : (b) 17
The given series is prime number series. The next prime

number is 17.
14. Find misssing number :
2, 5, 11, 17, 23, ....., 41
(a) 29 (b) 31
(c) 37 (d) 39
Answer : (b) 31
The prime numbers are written

alternately.
2, 4, 3, 9, 5, 25, 7, 49, ......, .........
(a) 9, 81 (b) 11, 121

(c) 10, 100 (d) 12, 144
Answer : (b) 11, 121
The series is 2, 22; 3, 32; 5, 52; 7, 72.

The next prime number is 11.
The missing number is 11, 112
i.e., 11 and 121.
16. What is the next number in this Sequence ?
6, 14, 36, 98, 276,………. ?

Answer : 794
The nth term in the series is given by the sum of x^n

for x in the range 1 to 3, i.e. 1^n + 2^n + 3^n.
Thus the first term is 1^1 + 2^1 + 3^1 = 1 + 2 + 3 = 6,

the second term is 1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 = 1 + 4 + 9 = 14,
and so on.
The sixth term is then 1^6 + 2^6 + 3^6 = 1 + 64 + 729

= 794.
17. What number would replace the question mark in this quite difficult number sequence
?
21, 32, 54, 87,131…….. ?

Answer : 186
Explanation :
21+11*1 => 32
32+11*2 => 54
54+11*3 => 87
87+11*4 => 131
131+11*5 => 186
5 12 24 36…… ?
Answer : 52
sum of consecutive prime numbers
(2+3 , 5+7 , 11+13 , 17+19 , 23+29)

15 29 56 108 208…… ?
Answer : 400
Explanation:
Begins with 15
2*15-1 => 29
2*29-2 => 56
2*56-4 => 108
2*108-8 => 208
2*208-16 => 400
1, 2, 6, 21, 88, ______?

Answer : 445
2=(1+1)1
6=(2+1)2
21=(6+1)3
88=(21+1)4
So 445=(88+1)5
Thanks….
Umang Zaveri
(M) +91 9898305050

Number Series

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Numerical Series Examples:

1. Examine the difference between numbers .

Example: 27, 24, 21, 18, __

Example: 3, 4, 6, 9, 13, 18, __

Example: 64, 32, 16, 8, __

Rule: Divide each number by 2 to get the next number in

3. Check whether numbers in the series change based on a

Example: 2, 4, 12, 48, __

Rule: Multiply the first number by 2, the second number by

In the below series, the functions alternate in an orderly fashion.

Example: 5, 7, 14, 16, 32, 34, __

Rule: Add 2, multiply by 2, add 2, multiply by 2, etc. The missing

In a series that involves two or more basic arithmetic functions, the

2, 1, (1/2), (1/4), ................

This is a simple division series; each number is one-half of

7, 10, 8, 11, 9, 12, ............

This is a simple alternating addition and subtraction

53, 53, 40, 40, 27, 27, .........

1.5, 2.3, 3.1, 3.9, .......

What number should come next?

80, 10, 70, 15, 60, ....…

What number should come next?

This is an alternating addition and subtraction

In this alternating repetition series, a random

F2, __, D8, C16, B32.

What number should fill the blank?

664, 332, 340, 170, ____, 89.

What number should fill the blank?

4, 7, 25, 10, __, 20, 16, 19, 15

What number should fill the blank?

Two series alternate here, with every third number

What number should come next?

2, 6, 18, 54, ......

80, 10, 70, 15, 60, …...

What number should come next?

This is an alternating addition and subtraction

The given series is prime number series. The next prime

2, 5, 11, 17, 23, ....., 41

The prime numbers are written

2, 4, 3, 9, 5, 25, 7, 49, ......, .........

(a) 9, 81 (b) 11, 121

The series is 2, 22; 3, 32; 5, 52; 7, 72.

6, 14, 36, 98, 276,………. ?

The nth term in the series is given by the sum of x^n

Thus the first term is 1^1 + 2^1 + 3^1 = 1 + 2 + 3 = 6,

The sixth term is then 1^6 + 2^6 + 3^6 = 1 + 64 + 729

21, 32, 54, 87,131…….. ?

sum of consecutive prime numbers

(2+3 , 5+7 , 11+13 , 17+19 , 23+29)

1, 2, 6, 21, 88, ______?

(M) +91 9898305050

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