Question 861158: Select the two numbers which should appear next in the series. 3 9 5 15 11 33 29
Answer by ben720(159)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! To try to find the pattern, look at the differences between consecutive numbers.
| Number |
Distance from the next |
| 3 |
6 |
| 9 |
-4 |
| 5 |
10 |
| 15 |
-4 |
| 11 |
33 |
| 33 |
-4 |
| 29 |
|
As you can see, every other number is four less than the one before it. However, the other numbers don't seem to follow an additive pattern. So, let's try division for every other number.
| Number |
Times to the next number |
| 3 |
3 |
| 5 |
3 |
| 11 |
3 |
As you can see, for the other numbers, you multiply by three.
And so your pattern is 3 (*3) 9 (-4) 5 (*3) 15 (-4) 11 (*3) 33 (-4) 29.
Continue with 29 * 3, which is 87, and subtract 4 from that to get 83.
Your next numbers are 87 and 83
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