NMMS - National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Mental Ability: Number Series Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Find the next number in the following series: 3, 7, 16, 35, ?
- 70
- 74 (Correct answer)
- 78
- 65
Correct answer: 74
The pattern is to multiply the previous number by 2 and then add an increasing consecutive number. 3 x 2 + 1 = 7; 7 x 2 + 2 = 16; 16 x 2 + 3 = 35; Therefore, the next number is 35 x 2 + 4 = 74.
Question 2: A student is practicing for the NMMS exam and encounters the sequence: 8, 14, 26, 50. To maintain the pattern, which of the following numbers should come next?
- 98 (Correct answer)
- 100
- 96
- 94
Correct answer: 98
The difference between consecutive numbers is doubling at each step. 14 - 8 = 6; 26 - 14 = 12; 50 - 26 = 24. The next difference should be 24 x 2 = 48. So, the next number is 50 + 48 = 98.
Question 3: Identify the missing term in the series: 121, 144, 169, ?, 225.
- 180
- 200
- 196 (Correct answer)
- 210
Correct answer: 196
The series consists of squares of consecutive integers starting from 11. 11^2 = 121, 12^2 = 144, 13^2 = 169, 14^2 = 196, 15^2 = 225. The missing term is 196.
Question 4: Which of the following numbers would correctly replace the question mark in the series: 5, 6, 10, 19, 35, ?
- 50
- 55
- 65
- 60 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 60
The pattern involves adding the square of consecutive natural numbers, starting from 1, but with a twist. The differences are 1, 4, 9, 16, which are 1^2, 2^2, 3^2, 4^2. So, the next difference is 5^2 = 25. The next number is 35 + 25 = 60.
Question 5: A number series is presented as 4, 10, ?, 82, 244. Following the established pattern, what is the missing number?
- 28 (Correct answer)
- 30
- 24
- 32
Correct answer: 28
The pattern is to multiply the previous number by 3 and then subtract 2. 4 x 3 - 2 = 10; 10 x 3 - 2 = 28; 28 x 3 - 2 = 82; 82 x 3 - 2 = 244. The missing number is 28.
Question 6: Find the next number in the alternating series: 9, 12, 11, 14, 13, 16, ?
- 18
- 15 (Correct answer)
- 17
- 14
Correct answer: 15
This is an alternating series. There are two separate patterns. The first pattern (9, 11, 13) increases by 2. The second pattern (12, 14, 16) also increases by 2. The next number belongs to the first pattern, so it should be 13 + 2 = 15.
NMMS - National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Mental Ability: Number Series Questions and Answers
Find the next number in the following series: 3, 7, 16, 35, ?