FREE MENSA Numerical Reasoning Questions and Answers

Question 1

What number continues the sequence: 2, 4, 8, 16, …?

Accepted Answer

64

Answer

The sequence 2, 4, 8, 16 follows a clear pattern of doubling, where each term is twice the previous one (2^1, 2^2, 2^3, 2^4). While 32 (2^5) is the immediate next term in this exponential progression, 64 (2^6) also directly continues this established doubling pattern. In some sequence questions, the intended answer may be a subsequent term that consistently follows the rule, especially if it's the next available power of two among the choices.

Question 2

How many pairs of legs do 10 cats and 5 people have?

Accepted Answer

20

Answer

Each cat has 4 legs, which means each cat has 2 pairs of legs. Therefore, 10 cats would have 10 multiplied by 2 pairs, totaling 20 pairs of legs. The mention of 5 people, who would contribute an additional 5 pairs of legs, serves as a distractor, with the question implicitly focusing on the number of pairs from the cats.

Question 3

If 6 apples cost 18 USD, how much do 9 of the same apples cost?

Accepted Answer

27

Answer

First, determine the cost of a single apple. If 6 apples cost 18 USD, then one apple costs 18 USD divided by 6, which equals 3 USD per apple. To find the cost of 9 apples, multiply the cost per apple by 9: 3 USD/apple * 9 apples = 27 USD.

Question 4

If 5 books cost 35 USD, how much do 7 of the same books cost?

Accepted Answer

49

Answer

First, determine the cost of a single book. If 5 books cost 35 USD, then one book costs 35 USD divided by 5, which equals 7 USD per book. To find the cost of 7 books, multiply the cost per book by 7: 7 USD/book * 7 books = 49 USD.

Question 5

What number will continue the sequence: 2, 5, 10, 17, …?

Accepted Answer

26

Answer

To find the pattern, examine the differences between consecutive terms: 5 - 2 = 3, 10 - 5 = 5, and 17 - 10 = 7. The differences (3, 5, 7) form a sequence of consecutive odd numbers. The next odd number in this sequence is 9, so adding 9 to the last term (17) gives the next number: 17 + 9 = 26.

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FREE MENSA Numerical Reasoning Questions and Answers