CHAPTER
2 SERIES
1.0 INTRODUCTION
2.0 DIFFERENCE SERIES
3.0 PRODUCT SERIES
4.0 SQUARES/CUBES SERIES
5.0 COMBINATION SERIES
6.0 MISCELLANEOUS SERIES
7.0 TRIANGULAR PATTERN SERIES
8.0 LETTER GROUP SERIES
9.0 LETTER SERIES
EXERCISE-1
EXERCISE-2
s;f;sk A
Series
1.0 INTRODUCTION
For better understanding, we classify this into the following categories.
1. Difference series
2. Product series
3. Squares/Cubes series
4. Combination series
5. Miscellaneous series
6. Triangular Pattern Series
2.0 DIFFERENCE SERIES
The difference series can be further, classified as follows:
(a) Number series with a constant difference ; Here the difference between two consecutive num-
bers is always constant. For example, the numbers of the series 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 ..... are such that
the difference between two consecutive terms is constant. Here this difference is 3.
Illustration 1. Find the next term in the series 10, 15, 19, 22, 24 ....
Solution Here the difference between 1st & 2nd terms, 2nd & 3rd terms, 3rd & 4th terms and so
on are 5, 4, 3, 2 respectively.
Since the difference between 22 & 24 is 2, the next difference should be 1. So, the
number that comes after 24 should be 25.
3.0 PRODUCT SERIES
We can have a series where numbers are obtained by multiplying or dividing the previous term with
a constant number, e.g. consider the series 81, 27, 9, 3..... Here, each term is obtained by dividing
the previous term by 3 (or in other words by multiplying the previous term by 1/3).
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Illustration 2. Consider the series 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96.
Solution
Here, each number in the series is multiplied by 2 to get the next term. So, the term that
comes after 96 is 192.
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Class VIII : MAT
4.0 SQUARE/CUBE SERIES
There can be a series where all the terms are related to the square of numbers or cube of numbers.
There can be many variations in such series.
Illustration 3. For example, each term of the series may be the square of a natural number such as 1,
4, 9, 16 ....
Solution
Here the term that follows 16 will be square of 5, i.e. 25.
The terms of the series may be the square of odd number, e.g. 1, 9, 25, 49 ..... or even
numbers e.g. 4, 16, 36, 64......
5.0 COMBINATION SERIES
This is a type of series where more than one arithmetic operation is performed.
Illustration 4. Let us take an example. 1, 3, 7, 2, 6, 10, 3, 9, 13 ......
Solution Here the first term is multiplied by 3 to get the second term. To get the third term we add
4 to the second term. To get the 4th term, we add 1 to the first term. After this the cycle
will be repeated.
This terms 5th term = 2 × 3 = 6
6th term = 6 + 4 = 10
7th term = 2 + 1 = 3 and so on.
Illustration 5. Consider another series, 1, 2, 6, 21, 88 ....
Solution Here, we can observe that 88 is close to the 4 times of 21 or it is 21 × 4 + 4. Similarly
21 is 6 × 3 + 3, 6 is 2 × 2 + 2 and 2 is 1 × 1 + 1.
6.0 MISCELLANEOUS SERIES
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Illustration 6. Take the series 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 ......
Solution It is a series of odd numbers. So the next term will be 15.
Illustration 7. There can be many variations in miscellaneous series e.g. 2, 12, 30, 56, 90, 132 .....
Solution This is series of product of two series, as 1 × 2, 3 × 4, 5 × 6, 7 × 8, 9 × 10, 11 × 12.
We can explain this series as product of odd number and even number series.
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Series
7.0 TRIANGULAR PATTERN SERIES
Sometimes, the differences between the consecutive terms of a series, again form a series. The
differences between the consecutive terms of the new series so formed, again form a series. This
pattern continues till we attain a uniform difference between the consecutive terms of the series.
Illustration 8. Find the missing term in the series:
3, 20, 63, 144, 275, ?
(A) 354 (B) 468 (C) 548 (D) 554
Solution As discussed above, we may label the given series I and the form series II to IV as
shown below:
Series I : 3 20 63 144 275 ?
Series II : 17 43 81 131 ?
Series III : 26 38 50 ?
Series IV : 12 12
Clearly, the pattern in series III is 12.
So,missing term in series III = 50 + 12 = 62;
missing term in series II = 131 + 62 = 193;
missing term in series I = 275 + 193 = 468.
Thus, the missing term is 468. Hence, the answer is (B).
8.0 LETTER GROUP SERIES
Below is given a series of letter-groups with one term missing as shown by (?). This term is given as
one of the alternatives among the five groups of letter given under it. Let us examine a few questions
and try to find the missing term.
Illustration 9. APZLT, CQYNR, ERXPP, GSWRN, ITVTL, (?)
(A) KUUVJ (B) KVUUJ (C) JUVUR (D) LATER
(E) TABLE
Solution Let us examine letters in the Ist place in each letter group. We have A, C, E, G, I. These
are letters coming with a gap of one letter. Hence the missing term should start with K.
Letters in the second place are P, Q, R, S, T Next should be U.
Letters in the third place are Z, Y, X, W, V. There are continuous letters in the reverse
D\Allen-Junior wing\MAT\2020-21\VIII\Module-1\Series(Th).p65
order. Hence next letter should be U.
With two letters only we could say that the answer is (A). The third letter confirms the
same.
Illustration 10. ZYYZR, ABVUM, ?, BCUTL, XWABT, CDTSK
(A) YXZAS (B) ZYABT (C) XWYZR (D) YXZAB
(E) ZXYBS
Solution A careful look will show that there are two series of groups of letters namely.
(i) ZYYZR, (?), XWABT
(ii) ABVUM, BCUTL, CDTSK
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Class VIII : MAT
In the first series, let us see the realtion of letters in different positions.
Position Rule (?)
I Z?X 1 letter backward Y
II Y ? W 1 letter backward X
III Y ? A 1 letter forward Z
IV Z ? B 1 letter forward A
V R?T 1 letter forward S
Hence the missing letter group is YXZAS i.e. (A) is the answer.
Illustration 11. ACEGI, JLNPR, SUWYA, (?), KMOQS
(A) LBGHI (B) ADJFH (C) YWXAC (D) BDFHJ
(E) CFILO
Solution A-C-E-G-I, i.e. There is a gap of one letter in the first group. Second group starts with
J, i.e. immediately after the last letter I in the first group, and there is a gap of one J-L-
N-P-R. Following this pattern the answer is BDFHJ i.e. (D)
9.0 LETTER SERIES
The examples that follow are based on letter series from which some of the letters are missing. The
missing letters are given in the proper sequence in one of the five alternatives given below each
example.
Illustration 12. a a b – a a a – b b a –
(A) b b a (B) a b b (C) b a b (D) a a b
(E) b b b
Solution Observe the above letter series
1. The first blank space should be filled in by ‘b’ so that two a’s are followed by two b’s
2. The second blank space should be filled in by either ‘a’ in which case four ‘a’ s are
followed by two ‘b’s.
3. The last space must be filled in by ‘a’.
4. Possible answers are b a a of b b a. Since the alternatives contain only ‘b a a’ , (A)
is the answer.
5. In case ‘b a a’ and b b a’ had appeared as possible alternatives, then we would
choose one which is a more prominent pattern.
a a b b/a a a b b b/a a
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Would be a better choice so that the answer in that case would be b b a. Hence the
answer is (A).
Illustration 13. a – a a b – a a a a b –
(A) a a a (B) a a b (C) a b a (D) b a a
(E) b a b
Solution Possible series could be
aaaabaaaaabb
or a b a a b b a a a a b b
of the two possible answers i.e., a, a, b and b, b, b only the first appears as an alternative
and is therefore the only choice. Hence the answer is (B)
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Series
SOME WORKED OUT ILLUSTRATIONS
Directions: The terms given in each of the following questions follow a definite pattern and thus
make a series. Find the missing number from the series out of the given option (A) to (D):
Illustration 1.
3, 6, 18, 72, (......)
(A) 144 (B) 216 (C) 288 (D) 360
Solution (D)
The pattern is × 2, × 3, × 4,
Missing number = 72 × 5 = 360.
Illustration 2.
19, 2, 38, 3, 114, 4, (......)
(A) 228 (B) 256 (C) 352 (D) 456
Solution (D)
The sequence is a combination of two series
1. 19, 38, 114 (......) and 1, 2, 3, 4
The pattern followed in I is × 2, × 3,
Missing number = 114 × 4 = 456.
Illustration 3.
121, 225, 361, (......)
(A) 441 (B) 484 (C) 529 (D) 729
Solution (C)
The numbers are 112, 152, 192, i.e.112,
(11+4×1)2 (11+4×2)2,
Missing number = (11 + 4 × 3)2 = (23)2 = 529.
Illustration 4.
0.5, 1.5, 4.5, 13.5, (......)
(A) 9 (B) 11 (C) 13 (D) 40.5
Solution (D)
Each term of the series is obtained by multiplying the preceding term by 3.
Missing number = 13.5 × 3 = 40.5.
Illustration 5.
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1, 2, 3, 5, 8, (......)
(A) 9 (B) 11 (C) 13 (D) 15
Solution (C)
Each term in the series is the sum of the preceding two terms.
Illustration 6.
1, 6, 15, (......) 45, 66, 91
(A) 25 (B) 26 (C) 27 (D) 28
Solution (D)
The pattern is +5, +9, , +21, +25.
Missing number = 15 + 13 = 28.
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Class VIII : MAT
Directions (1 to 10) : In each of the following questions, a number series is given with one term
missing. Choose the correct alternative that will continue the same pattern and replace the question
mark in the given series.
1. 1, 9, 25, 49, ?, 121
(A) 64 (B) 81 (C) 91 (D) 100
2. 4, 7, 12, 19, 28, ?
(A) 30 (B) 36 (C) 39 (D) 49
3. 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 25, ?
(A) 26 (B) 27 (C) 29 (D) 37
4. 6, 12, 21, ?, 48
(A) 33 (B) 38 (C) 40 (D) 45
5. 2, 5, 9, ?, 20, 27
(A) 14 (B) 16 (C) 18 (D) 24
6. 6, 11, 21, 36, 56, ?
(A) 42 (B) 51 (C) 81 (D) 91
7. 10, 18, 28, 40, 54, 70, ?
(A) 85 (B) 86 (C) 87 (D) 88
8. 120, 99, 80, 63, 48, ?
(A) 35 (B) 38 (C) 39 (D) 40
9. 22, 24, 28, ?, 52, 84
(A) 36 (B) 38 (C) 42 (D) 46
10. 4832, 5840, 6848, ?
(A) 7815 (B) 7846 (C) 7856 (D) 7887
Directions (11 to 15) : In each of the following questions, various terms of an alphabet series
are given with one or more terms missing as shown by (?). Choose the missing terms out of the
given alternatives.
11. R, U, X, A, D, ?
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(A) F (B) G (C) H (D) I
12. T, R, P, N, L, ?, ?
(A) J, G (B) J, H (C) K, H (D) K, I
13. B, D, F, I, L, P, ?
(A) R (B) S (C) T (D) U
14. U, B, I, P, W, ?
(A) D (B) F (C) Q (D) Z
15. H, I, K, N,?
(A) O (B) Q (C) R (D) S
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Series
Directions (16 to 25) : In each of the following questions, a number series is given with one term
missing. Choose the correct alternative that will continue the same pattern and replace the question
mark in the given series.
16. 3, 7, 15, 31, 63, ?
(A) 120 (B) 110 (C) 100 (D) 127
17. 2, 3, 8, 27, 112, ?
(A) 500 (B) 565 (C) 520 (D) 515
18. 2, 5, 11, 17, 23, 31, ?
(A) 33 (B) 37 (C) 41 (D) 43
19. 5, 10, 17, 26, ?, 50
(A) 37 (B) 36 (C) 38 (D) 40
20. 0, 7, 26, 63, 124, 215, ?
(A) 344 (B) 343 (C) 342 (D) 345
21. 0, 5, 8, ?, 24, 37, 48
(A) 16 (B) 17 (C) 18 (D) 20
22. 77, 49, 36, 18, ?
(A) 12 (B) 10 (C) 8 (D) 9
23. 22, 26, 34, 41, 46, ?
(A) 50 (B) 48 (C) 56 (D) 60
24. 1, 2, 3, 3, 5, 5, 7, 7, 9, 11, ?, ?
(A) 11, 13 (B) 12, 12 (C) 12, 13 (D) 11, 12
25. 1, 6, 7, 13, 20, ?
(A) 25 (B) 28 (C) 30 (D) 33
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Class VIII : MAT
Directions (1 to 10) : In each of the following questions, a letter-number series is given with one
or more terms missing as shown by (?). Choose the missing term out of the given alternatives.
1. D-4, F-6, H-8, J-10, ?, ?
(A) K-12, M-13 (B) L-12, M-14 (C) L-12, N-14 (D) K-12, M-14
2. 2B, 4C, 8E, 14H, ?
(A) 16K (B) 20I (C) 20L (D) 22L
3. 3F, 6G, 11I, 18L, ?
(A) 21O (B) 25N (C) 25P (D) 27P
4. W-144, ?, S-100, Q-81, O-64
(A) U-121 (B) U-122 (C) V-121 (D) V-128
5. 2, A, 9, B, 6, C,13, D,?
(A) 9 (B) 10 (C) 12 (D) 19
6. KM5, IP8, GS11, EV14, ?
(A) BX17 (B) BY17 (C) CY17 (D) CY18
7. C4X, F9U, I16R, ?
(A) K25P (B) L25P (C) L25O (D) L27P
8. 2Z5, 7Y7, 14X9, 23W11, 34V13, ?
(A) 27U24 (B) 45U15 (C) 47U15 (D) 47V14
9. N5V, K7T, ?, E14P, B19N
(A) H9R (B) H10Q (C) H10R (D) I10R
10. Q1F, S2E, U6D, W21C, ?
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(A) Y44B (B) Y66B (C) Y88B (D) Z88B
Directions (11 to 19) : In each of the following letter series, some of the letters are missing which
are given in that order as one of the alternatives below it. Choose the correct alternative.
11. _ _ aba _ _ ba _ ab
(A) abbba (B) abbab (C) baabb (D) bbaba
12. ab _ _ baa _ _ ab _
(A) aaaaa (B) aabaa (C) aabab (D) baabb
22
Series
13. m _ nm _ n _ an _ a _ ma _
(A) aamnan (B) ammanm (C) aammnn (D) amammn
14. a _ ba _ b _ b _ a _ b
(A) abaab (B) abbab (C) aabba (D) bbabb
15. _ stt _ tt _ tts _
(A) tsts (B) ttst (C) sstt (D) tsst
16. ab _ aa _ caabb _ aab _ cc
(A) cbbc (B) ccbb (C) cbcb (D) bccb
17. pq _ sqr _ pr _ pqspq _ pqrs
(A) pqrr (B) rssr (C) rsss (D) srrs
18. x _ zyx _ yzy _ xy _ yx
(A) yxzx (B) xyzx (C) yzxz (D) yxxz
19. x _ zx_yyzzx _ xy _ yzzz
(A) yxyx (B) yyyx (C) yxxy (D) xxyy
Directions (20 to 25) : Choose the missing term out of the given alternatives in the following
questions.
20. 2, 20, 25, 250, 255, ?
(A) 500 (B) 2550 (C) 2000 (D) 1000
21. 13, 24, 46, 79, ?
(A) 125 (B) 130 (C) 120 (D) 123
22. B, C, E, G, ?
(A) H (B) K (C) I (D) J
23. A, D, I, P, ?
(A) T (B) X (C) Y (D) Z
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24. A4, C8, F14, J22, ?
(A) L30 (B) O32 (C) M32 (D) O30
25. BMK, DLP, GJU, KGZ, ?
(A) LMO (B) OEE (C) PCE (D) MCE
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Class VIII : MAT
ANSWERS
EXERCISE-1
Que. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Ans. B C C A A C D A A C
Que. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Ans. B B C A C D B C A C
Que. 21 22 23 24 25
Ans. B C C A D
EXERCISE-2
Que. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Ans. C D D A B C C C C C
Que. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Ans. B B C D D C B D C B
Que. 21 22 23 24 25
Ans. D B C B C
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