IBEW Aptitude Number Series Question and Answers 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Complete the series: 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, ___
- 40
- 41
- 42 (Correct answer)
- 43
Correct answer: 42
This is the 7 times table: each term increases by 7. 35 + 7 = 42.
This arithmetic sequence increases by 7 each step: 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42. The common difference is 7, making this the multiples of 7. Recognizing multiples is a foundational number series skill.
Question 2: What is the next term: 256, 64, 16, 4, ___?
- 0
- 1 (Correct answer)
- 2
- 3
Correct answer: 1
Each term is divided by 4: 256÷4=64, 64÷4=16, 16÷4=4, 4÷4=1.
This geometric sequence divides each term by 4: 256, 64, 16, 4, 1. The common ratio is 1/4. After 4, dividing by 4 gives 1. These shrinking geometric sequences test your ability to identify division patterns.
Question 3: Find the missing number: 3, 7, 15, 31, 63, ___
- 95
- 107
- 127 (Correct answer)
- 131
Correct answer: 127
Each term is doubled and 1 added: 3×2+1=7, 7×2+1=15, 15×2+1=31, 31×2+1=63, 63×2+1=127.
The pattern is ×2 + 1: 3×2+1=7, 7×2+1=15, 15×2+1=31, 31×2+1=63, 63×2+1=127. This combined operation pattern (multiply then add) is a more advanced number series type seen on IBEW aptitude tests.
Question 4: What comes next: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, ___?
- 42
- 45
- 49 (Correct answer)
- 56
Correct answer: 49
These are perfect squares: 1²=1, 2²=4, 3²=9, 4²=16, 5²=25, 6²=36, 7²=49.
This sequence is the perfect squares: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, and 49 (=7²). Recognizing square number sequences (and later cube sequences) is important for IBEW aptitude test preparation.
Question 5: Complete the pattern: 50, 45, 41, 38, 36, ___
- 34
- 35 (Correct answer)
- 33
- 32
Correct answer: 35
Differences: -5, -4, -3, -2, next is -1. So 36 - 1 = 35.
The differences decrease by 1 each time: -5, -4, -3, -2, -1. So 36 minus 1 equals 35. This shrinking-difference pattern requires two levels of analysis and is considered moderate difficulty on aptitude tests.
Question 6: What is the next number: 2, 6, 18, 54, 162, ___?
- 324
- 364
- 436
- 486 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 486
Each term is multiplied by 3: 2×3=6, 6×3=18, 18×3=54, 54×3=162, 162×3=486.
This geometric sequence multiplies by 3 each time: 2, 6, 18, 54, 162, 486. The common ratio is 3. After 162, the next term is 162 × 3 = 486. Multiplying-by-3 sequences are a common IBEW aptitude test pattern.
Complete the series: 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, ___