SOLUTION: 20, 32, 47, 57, ?, 80 Find the missing number of the given series

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Question 1203845: 20, 32, 47, 57, ?, 80
Find the missing number of the given series

Found 4 solutions by josgarithmetic, greenestamps, math_tutor2020, ikleyn:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39618)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Differences between successive pairs
12, 15, 10, something, somethingelse

Try any two-digit number between 57 and 80 not including them. Otherwise no specific pattern.

The best possible answers for the unknown term are any one of:
67, 68, 69, 70.

Answer by greenestamps(13200)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!


There is no mathematics to this; it is purely entertainment.

ANY number in the missing spot makes a valid sequence.

If there is no information given about what kind of sequence it is, then it is only a guessing game.

Spend as much (or, better yet, as little!) time as you want trying to find a pattern that predicts the missing number -- knowing that any "answer" you come up with might not be "right".

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Since you have received several responses saying that it's not possible to know the answer, I will add to my response to show that there is a formal mathematical way to find ONE POSSIBLE answer to the problem.

The problem shows terms 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 of a sequence. We can find a solution using formal mathematics if we assume that the sequence is generated by a polynomial function. If we do that, then we are looking for a polynomial f(x) for which

f(1)=20; f(2)=32; f(3)=47; f(4)=57; and f(6)=80

5 known function values can be fitted with a unique polynomial of degree 4, so we are looking for a function



that has the 5 given function values.

We can use matrices (e.g., on a graphing calculator like a TI-83 or TI-84) to find the polynomial function that generates the given function values. Doing that gives us the following polynomial:



We can then find the missing number in the sequence by evaluating f(5), which turns out to be 64.

So ONE POSSIBLE answer to the problem, using a formal mathematical process is 64.

We can also find that answer, without finding the polynomial that generates the sequence, using the method of finite differences. In a polynomial of degree 4, the 4th differences are constant.

So we can call the missing term x and find the 4th differences and set them equal to find the missing term.

   20   32     47       57           x        80   given terms
     12   15       10         x-57       80-x     1st differences
        3     -5       x-67        137-2x        2nd differences
          -8      x-62       204-3x             3rd differences
             x-54     266-4x                   4th differences

The 4th differences must be the same:






Answer by math_tutor2020(3817)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Questions that ask about the next term in a sequence tend to be too vague.
If the teacher mentioned something like "the sequence is arithmetic" or "the sequence is geometric", then it would narrow things down to be able to determine the next term.

Read my reply at this link for more info
https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Sequences-and-series/Sequences-and-series.faq.question.1195799.html

Answer by ikleyn(52788)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

Submitting such problems under the guise of mathematical problems is EITHER

            (a)   a form of  100%  cheating;

      OR

            (b)   a form of  100%  misunderstanding what a  Math problem is,  in general.


So,  if you want to maintain your good name and reputation,  never participate in disseminating of such tasks.



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