Question 144227: select the next number in the series:
298 209 129 58 -4
choices are -13, -93, -66, -57
Found 2 solutions by stanbon, MathLover1:
Answer by stanbon(75887)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! select the next number in the series:
298 209 129 58 -4
choices are -13, -93, -66, -57
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You take the successive differences and get:
89....80....71...62
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You take the successive differences again and get:
9.....9....9
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This tells you the pattern is quadratic
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Using the form y = ax^2+bx+c you generate three equations by
substituting three points from the following:(1,298) (2,209) (3,129) (4,58) (4,-4)
Doing that will give you three equations in a,b, c.
Solve the system of equations and determine f(6) to get the
next number in the sequence.
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I get -57.
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Cheers,
Stan H.
Answer by MathLover1(20850)  (Show Source):
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