Government of Tamil Nadu
Department of Employment and Training
Course : Competitive Exam
Subject : IBPS and other Bank Exams
Topic : Number Series
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Series
1) A series is an ordered collection of figures or numbers or words or
alphabets. Where missing are represented by a blank or a question mark.
2) Number Series and Letter Series form an important part of the
Reasoning section in competitive examinations.
3) Each variables follows its predecessor in a certain way according to its
definite pattern.
4) Different variety of patterns
1
Number Series
Introduction
A sequence of numbers which follow a particular pattern is called number
series
In number series the questions are based on some specific pre-decided
hidden rules.
For example,
1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11….. Here the difference between the consecutive
numbers is two.
It is important to note that in number series each number except the first
number is related to the prior number with some specific rule.
Things to be noted:
1) There is no specific sequence formula by which a series is formed
2) If change in series is slow then it is a difference series. It is generally
due to a Addition or Subtraction.
3) If change is initially sharp but later slow then it is due to addition of
squared or cubed terms
4) If the number series is alternating, then it may be a mixed series with
two operations going on alternately
2
Arithmetic Series:
Here the series progresses with addition or subtraction of some specific
numbers. Here the DIFFERENCE between any successive terms is not very
large, increases in a specific manner and is constant throughout the series.
Example: 5, 10, 17, 26, 37, 50, 65
Ans : 80
Arithmetic Co-Geometric Series:
As name suggests this series is the combination of arithmetic and
geometric series. An important property of such series is that the DIFFERENCE
of successive terms is in geometric series.
Example: 1, 8, 22, 50, 106, 218
Ans : 442
3
Product series:
In this type of series, each term is multiplied by a fixed number or
specific number pattern to get the next successive number. This can be of
following types,
1) Multiplication of the previous number by a fixed number
Example: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128
Ans: 256
2) Multiplication of the previous number by the next decreasing number
Example: 30, 180, 900, 3600, 10800, 21600
3) Multiplication of the previous number by the next increasing number
Example: 21, 105, 630, 4410, 35280
Ans: 3,17,520
4
Difference Series:
Difference series can be classified as
Constant
The number series with a constant difference, where there is
always a constant difference between the two consecutive numbers.
Example: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21
Ans: 24
Increase Decrease Difference
In the number series with an increasing or decreasing difference
the differences between the two consecutive numbers is increasing or
decreasing
Example: 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 16, 22
Ans: 29
5
Example: 7, 16, 24, 31, 37, 42
Ans: 46
Division series:
In this type of series, each term is divided by a fixed number or
specific number pattern to get the next successive number.
Example: 128, 64, 32, 16, 8
Ans: 4
Square or cube series:
This type of numbers series progresses with squaring or cubing of
the numbers.
Example: 4, 16, 36, 64, 100 (squaring)
6
Ans: 144
Example: 1, 8, 64, 125, 216, 343 (Cubing)
Ans: 343
Mixed series:
In this type, more than one series pattern is involved. Generally these
type of questions are a little complicated.
Example: 61, 72, 60, 73, 59, 74, 58, 75
Ans: 57
7
Combination Series :
It is a combination of different arithmetic operations and
combination of different series.
Example : 2 , 4, 5, 9, 9, 16, 14, ____, 20
Ans: 52 = 25
Problems
Question : 1
2, 7, 12, 17, ___
Solution :
2 7 12 17 21
+5 +5 +5 +5
Ans: 21
8
Question : 2
35, 27, 19, 11, ___
Solution :
35 27 19 11 3
-8 -8 -8 -8
Ans: 3
Question : 3
15 , 35 , 77 , _____
Solution :
3 * 5 = 15
5 * 7 = 35
7 * 11 = 77
Ans: Hence the next term will be 11 * 13 = 143
Question : 4
15, 26 , 42, 63, ____
9
Solution :
15 26 42 63 89
+11 +16 +21 +26
+5 +5 +5
Ans: 89
Question : 5
34, 25, 18, 13, ____
Solution :
34 25 18 13 10
-9 -7 -5 -3
Ans: 10
Question : 6
1, 2, 6, 21, 88, ____
Solution :
1*1=1+1=2
2*2=4+2=6
6 * 3 = 18 + 3 = 21
10
21 * 4 = 84 + 4 = 88
Ans: So the next term will be 88 * 5 = 440 + 5 = 445
Question : 7
7, 16, 41, 90, _____
Solution :
7 16 41 90 211
+32 +52 +72 +112
Ans: 211
Question : 8
70, 54, 45, 41, ____
Solution :
70 54 45 41 40
-42 -32 -22 -12
Ans: 40
11
Question : 9
125, 155, ____, 245, 305
Solution :
125 + 30 = 155
155 + 40 = 195
195 + 50 = 245
245 + 60 = 305
Ans: 195
Question :10
7, 15, 42, 106, ____
Solution :
7 15 42 106 231
+23 +33 +43 +53
Ans: 231
Question :11
1 , 1, 2, 4, 3, 9, 4, 16 _____
Solution :
1*1 = 1
2*2=4
3*3=9
12
4 * 4 = 16
Ans: Hence the next term is 5 So, 5 * 5 = 25.
Question :12
1, 2, 5, 14, 41, ____
Solution :
1 2 5 14 41 122
+1 +3 +9 +27 +81
1*3 3*3 9*3 27*3
Ans: 122
Question : 13
33, 17, 9, 5, ____
Solution :
33 17 9 5 3
-16 -8 -4 -2
Ans: 3
13
Question : 14
1317, 1923, 2931, 3741, 4347 ______
Solution :
Ans: Prime number order so the next term will be ( 53 59 )
Question : 15
2, 4, 11, 37, 153, _____
Solution :
2×1+2=4
4 × 2 + 3 = 11
11 × 3 + 4 = 37
37 × 4 + 5 = 153
Ans: 771
153 × 5 + 6 = 771
14
