SOLUTION: 3, -6, 12, 4, 20, ?

Algebra ->  Sequences-and-series -> SOLUTION: 3, -6, 12, 4, 20, ?      Log On


   



Question 1074719: 3, -6, 12, 4, 20, ?
Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Patterns are in the eye of the pattern designer.
If you know the pattern designer,
you may be successful at reading his/her mind.

Maybe the next terms are 13, 27, 21, 33.

The first differences are
-6-3=+-9
12-%28-6%29=18
4-12=-8
20-4=16
Following a pattern apparent (to me) in first differences -9, 18, -8, 16,
you could expect the next differences to be -7, 14, -6, 12, .....
Then, the next terms would be
20-7=13 ,
13%2B14=27 ,
27-6=21 ,
21%2B12=33 ,
and so on.