USPS Number Sequence Comparison 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Original: 55301 44892 73016 Copy: 55301 44892 73061 The error involves which kind of change?
- A digit was replaced by a completely different digit
- Two adjacent digits were swapped (Correct answer)
- One digit was dropped
- One digit was duplicated
Correct answer: Two adjacent digits were swapped
In the last group, '16' was transposed to '61', swapping two adjacent digits.
Question 2: How many of these four copies contain an error compared to the original '482-31-9057'? 1) 482-31-9057 2) 482-13-9057 3) 482-31-9057 4) 482-31-9507
- 1 copy has an error
- 2 copies have errors (Correct answer)
- 3 copies have errors
- All 4 copies have errors
Correct answer: 2 copies have errors
Copies 2 and 4 contain errors ('31' transposed to '13' and '57' transposed to '07' respectively); copies 1 and 3 are correct.
Question 3: Original: 0039 2281 7754 Copy: 0039 2281 7745 At what position within the last group does the error occur?
- Digits 1–2
- Digits 2–3
- Digits 3–4 (Correct answer)
- No error exists
Correct answer: Digits 3–4
The last two digits of group 3, '54', were transposed to '45'.
Question 4: A clerk records parcel weights as number strings. Select the entry that was recorded WITHOUT error. Original source list: 1034 2987 4561 8820
- 1034 2987 4561 8820 (Correct answer)
- 1034 2978 4561 8820
- 1034 2987 4651 8820
- 1034 2987 4561 8802
Correct answer: 1034 2987 4561 8820
The first entry matches the source list exactly; all others have one transposition.
Question 5: Original: 6 12 18 24 30 36 Copy: 6 12 18 42 30 36 What is the most likely type of keying error in this sequence?
- Omission of a digit
- Transposition of digits within a number (Correct answer)
- Substitution of one number for a non-adjacent number
- Repetition of the previous number
Correct answer: Transposition of digits within a number
'24' was keyed as '42', swapping the two digits — a classic transposition error.
Question 6: Which sequence correctly continues the pattern AND matches the copy? Original: 103 206 309 412 515 Copy: 103 206 309 412 515
- Both are identical — no error (Correct answer)
- The 3rd element differs
- The 4th element differs
- The 5th element differs
Correct answer: Both are identical — no error
Both sequences are identical; a test-taker should confirm all five elements match before marking 'no error.'
Question 7: Original: 77-4921-0038 Copy: 77-4912-0038 Which segment contains the error and what changed?
- First segment — two digits swapped
- Middle segment — two digits swapped (Correct answer)
- Last segment — two digits swapped
- No error — sequences are identical
Correct answer: Middle segment — two digits swapped
The middle segment changed from '4921' to '4912', swapping the third and fourth digits.
USPS Number Sequence Comparison 3
Original: 55301 44892 73016
Copy: 55301 44892 73061
The error involves which kind of change?