In verbal series, words, letters or digits are given in a specific sequence/order and we have to find out next word, letter or digit to complete the given series.
In series, given alphabets follows a particular pattern or sequence or order. We have to detect the pattern from the given alphabets and find missing alphabet or the next alphabet to continue the pattem.
* There are no set niles.
* There can be omission of alphabets in an order.
° Alphabets may also be omitted in an increasing/decresing order, which may be direct increase or decrease.
° Insolving these questions pattern of the alphabet series should be noted.
POSITION OF ALPHABETS
SOME SKIPPING PATTERNS
SOLVED EXAMPLES
1. Which term comes next in the sequence AC, FH, KM, PR ?
(a) UW (b) VW (c) UX (d) TV (¢) None of these
Answer is (a)
Solution: Clearly, the first and second letters of each term are moved five steps forward to obtain the corresponding letter of the next term. Thus, the first letter of the missing term must be five steps ahead of P i.e. U, while the second letter must be five letter ahead of R ie. W. So missing term is UW .
2. Find next term in the series
BMO, EQQ, HQS, ?
(a) KSU (b) LMN (c) SOV (d) SOW
Solution: Clearly. we observe the follow ing pattern :
The first letter follows the pattern +3 Le. .
B—E——H— (k)
The second letter follows the pattern +2 ie.
M—O—Q -à (S)
The third letter follows the pattern +2 ie.
O—Q—S—(U)
Thus the missing term is KSU, Hence the answer Is (a).
3. Which term comes next in the series YEB, WFD, UHG, SKI, ?
(a) QOL (b) QGL (c) TOL (d) ONL
Solution: We observe the following patterns.
Thus, the missing term ts QOL, Hence the answer is (a).
PRACTICE TEST-I
1. R, U, X,A, D,?
(a) F (b) G (c) H (d) I
2. ab, ba, abc, cba, abcd , ……….
(a) acbd (b) bacd (c) cabd (d) dcba
3. …., SIY, OEU, KAQ, GWM, CSI
(a) VMC (b) WMC (c) VNC (d) WNC
4. YXZ, XWY.,…………, WUW, UTV, TSU
(a) VWT (b) WXV (c) TVX (d) WVX
5. PTVX, AEGI, ……….., WACE, HLNP
(a) KNQT (b) LPRT (c) KPQS (d) HKLO
6. Z, Y, X, U, T, S, P, O, N, K, ?, ?
(a) H,G (b) H, I (c) I,H (d) JI
7. GH, JL, NQ, SW, YD, ?
(a) EJ (b) FJ (c) EL (d) FL
8. ajs, gpy, ?, sbk, yhq
(a) dmv (b) mve (c) oua (d) qz
9. PMT, OOS, NQR, MSQ, ?
(a) LUP (b) LVP (c) LVR (d) LWP
10. BZA, DYC, FXE, ?, JVI |
(a) HUG (b) HWG (c) UHG (d) WHG (e) None of these
11. ABD, DGK, HMS, MTB, SBL, ?
(a) XKW (b) ZAB (c) ZKU (d) ZKW
12. WFB, TGD, QHG, ?
(a) NIJ (b) NIK (c) NJK (d) OIK (e) PIK
13. UPI, ?, ODP, MBQ, IAW .
(a) RHJ (b) SHJ (c) SV (d) THK (e) TH
14. ATTRIBUTION, TTRIBUTIO, RIBUTIO, IBUTI, ?
(a) IBU (b) UT (c) UTI (d) BUT (e) None of these
15. ADVENTURE, DVENTURE, DVENTUR, ?, VENTU
(a) DVENT (b) VENTURE (c) VENTUR (d) DVENTU (e) None of these
TYPE 2: NUMBER SERIES –
In number series. some numbers are arranged in a particular order. All the numbers form a series and change a in certain order, Sometimes, one or more numbers are wrongly put in the number series. We are required to observe the trend in which number change in the series and find out which number/numbers misfit into the series.
SOLVED EXAMPLES
Ex 1: 4, 8, 28, 80, 244, ?
(a) 278 (b) 428 (c) 628 (d) 728
Sol. The terms of given series are 31 +1, 32-1, 33+ 1, 34 -1, 35+ 1, 36 – 1 :
SO, missing term = 36 — 1 = 729 — 1 = 728
Hence, the answer is (d) on we
Ex 2: 0, 6, 24, 60, 120, 210, ?
(a) 240 (b) 290 (c) 336 (d) 504
Sol. The given series is : 13 – 1, 23 – 2, 33 – 3 , 43 – 4, 53 – 5, 63 – 6
therefore missing term = 73 — 7 = 343 — 7 = 336 Hence, the answer is (c) .
Ex 3: 1, 3, 3, 6, 7, 9, 2, 12, 12
(a) 10 (b) 11 (c) 12 d) 13
Sol. The given sequence is a combination of two series. a
l. 1, 3.7, 2,21 and Il. 3, 6, 9, 12
The pattern followed in I is +2, +4,….. and pattern followed in IT is +3 so, missing number = 7+6= 13 Hence, the answer is (d)
Type 2 : (a) Triangular Pattern Series
Sometimes, the difference between the consecutive terms of a series, again form a series. The difference 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.
Ex 5: Find the missing term in the series 3, 20, 63, 144, 275 , ?
Sol.
Series I: 3 20 63 144 275?
Series II: 17 43 81 131?
Series III : 26 38 50?
Series IV: 12 12?
Now pattern in series III is +12.
So, missing term in series III is 50 + 12 = 62;
Missing term in series II is 131 + 62 = 193 ;
Missing term Is series I is 275 + 193 = 468 ;
Thus, the missing term is 468.
Direct Method: Missing term is = 275 + (131 + 50 + 12) = 468
2. (b) Elementary Idea of Progression
I. Arithmetic Progression (A.P.) : The progression of the form a, a+ d, a+ 2d, a+ 3d…….–.. is known as an A.P. with term = a and common difference = d
Ex. 3, 6, 9, 12, ………… iS an A.P. with
a=3 andd=6-3=3.
In an A.P., we have nth term = a + (n-1) d.
II. Geomeric Progression (G-P.): The progression of the form a, ar, ar2, ar3, ……… is known as GP. with first term as a and commomn ratio = r
Ex. 1,5, 25, 125, ……….. is a GP. With a = 1
and r = 5/1 = 25/5 = 125/25 =5
In a GP. we have nth term = arn-1
PRACTICE TEST-I
Direction (1 to 30) : 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. 6, 12, 21, ?, 48 :
(a) 33 (b) 38 (c) 40 (d) 45
4. 6, 11, 21, 36, 56 ?
(a) 42 (b) 51 (c) 81 (d) 91
5. 120, 99, 80, 63, 48, ?
(a) 35 (b) 38 (c) 39 (d) 40
6. 22, 24, 28, ? , 52, 84
(a) 36 (b) 38 (c) 42 (d) 46
7. 0, 2, 8, 14, ?, 34
(a) 20 (b) 23 (c) 24 (d) 25
8. 28, 33, 31, 36, ?, 39
(a) 32 (b) 34 (c) 38 (d) 40
9. 6, 17, 39, 72?
(a) 83 (b) 94 (c) 116 (d) 127
10. 1, 4, 10, 22, 46 ?
(a) 64 (b) 86 (c) 94 (d) 122
11. 4, 9, 25, ?, 121, 169, 289, 361
(a) 49 (b) 64 (c) 81 (d) 87
12. 1, 1, 2, 6, 24, ? , 720
(a) 100 (b) 104 (c) 108 (d) 120
13. 4, 6,9, 13 ?
(a) 17 (b) 19 (c) 20 (d) 22
14. 5760, 960, ?, 48, 16, 8
(a) 120 (b) 160 (c) 192 (d) 240
15. 1, 2, 6, 7, 21, 22, 66, 67, ?
(a) 70 (b) 134 (c) 201 (d) 301
16. 48, 24, 96, 48, 192, ?
(a) 76 (b) 90 (c) 96 (d) 98 a
17. 9, 27, 31, 155, 161, 1127, ?
(a) 316 (b) 1135 (c) 1288 (d) 2254
18. 2, 3, 3, 5, 10, 13, ? , 43, 172, 177
(a) 23 (b) 38 (c) 39 (d) 40
19. 8, 28, 116, 584, ?
(a) 1752 (b) 3502 (c) 3504 (d) 3508
20. 3, 7, 23, 95, ?
(a) 62 (b) 128 (c) 479 (d) 575
21. 1, 5, 14, 30, 55, 91, ?
(a) 130 (b) 140 (c) 150 (d) 160
22. 198, 194, 185, 169, ?
(a) 92 (b) 112 (c) 136 (d) 144
23. 24, 60, 120, 210, ?
(a) 300 (b) 336 (c) 420 (d) 525
24. 563, 647, 479, 815, 2 3
(a) 672 (b) 386 (c) 279 (d) 143
25. 45, 54, 47, ?, 49, 56, 51, 57, 53
(a) 48 (b) 50 (c) 55 (d) None of these
PRACTICE TEST-III
TYPE 3: WRONG NUMBER SERIES
Directions (1 to 5) : In the following number series, one of the numbers does not fit into the series. Find the wrong number.
1. 1788, 892, 444, 220, 112, 52, 24
(a) 52 (b) 112 (c) 220 (d) 444 (e) 892
2. 225, 289, 338, 374, 397, 415, 424
(a) 415 (b) 289 (c) 338 (d) 374 (e) 397
3. 5, 7.5, 11.25, 17.5, 29.75, 50, 91.25
(a) 7.5 (b) 17.5 (c) 29.75 (d) 91.25
(e) None of these
4. 35, 118, 280, 600, 1238, 2504, 5036
(a) 18 (b) 280 (c) 600 (d) 1238 (e) 2504.
5. 10, 12, 28, 90, 368, 1840, 11112
(a) 1840 (b) 308 (c) 90 (d) 28 (e) 12
Directions (6 to 10) : In cach of the following questions one number is wrong in the series. Find out the wrong number.
6. 1,2,5, 14, 41, 124
(a) 2 (b) 5 (c) 14 (d) 41 (e) 124
7. 100, 97, 90, 86, 76, 71, 62
(a) 62 (b) 71 (c) 76 (d) 86 (e) 97
8. 1, 2, 6, 24, 120, 620, 5040
(a) 5040 (b) 620 (c) 120 (d) 24 (e) 6
9. 4, 10, 22, 40, 84, 94, 130
(a) 22 (b) 40 (c) 64 (d) 84 (e) 130.
10. 1, 4, 8, 16, 31, 64, 127, 256
(a) 31 (b) 16 (c) 8 (d) 6 (e) 1
Directions (11 to 20) : In each of the following questions, one number is wrong in the series. Find out the wrong number:
11. 49, 56, 64, 71, 81, 90, 100, 110
(a) 56 (b) 64 (c) 71 (d) 81 (e) 90
12. 9, 13, 21, 37, 69, 132, 261
(a) 21 (b) 37 (c) 69 (d) 132 (e) 261
13. 9, 15, 24, 34, 51, 69, 90
(a) 15 (b) 24 (c) 51 (d) 69 (e) 34
14. 1, 3, 8, 19, 42, 88, 184
(a) 3 (b) 8 (c) 19 (d) 42 (e) 88
15. 3, 9, 36, 72, 216, 864, 1728, 3468
(a) 3468 (b) 1728 (c) 864 (d) 216 (e) 42
16. 2, 4, 8, 16, 48, 64, 128, 256
(a) 4 (b) 8 (c) 16 (d) 48 (e) 128.
17. 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 23
(a) 8 (b) 12 (c) 15 (d) 18 (e) 20
18. 2, 5, 11, 23, 48, 95, 191, 383
(a) 5 (b) 11 (c) 23 (d) 48 (e) 95
19. 3, 10, 36, 180, 1080, 7560, 60480
(a) 3 (b) 10 (c) 1080 (d) 7560 (e) 180
20. 93, 309, 434, 498, 521, 533
(a) 309 (b) 434 (c) 498 (d) 521
(e) None of these |
Directions (21 to 25) : In each of the following number series, a wrong number is given. Find out that wrong number.
21. 258, 130, 66, 34, 18, 8, 6
(a) 130 (b) 66 (c) 34 (d) 18 (e) 8
22. 2, 6, 24, 96, 285, 568, 567
(a) 6 (b) 24 (c) 96 (d) 285 (e) 568
23. 4, 5, 14, 39, 103, 169, 290
(a) 5 (b) 14 (c) 39 (d) 103 (e) 169
24. 6072, 1008, 200, 48, 14, 5, 3
(a) 1008 (b) 200 (c) 48 (d) 14 (e)5
25. 2, 3, 6, 15, 42, 125, 366
(a) 3 (b) 6 (c) 15 (d) 125 (e) 366
ANSWERS :
1. (b) 2. (e) 3. (c) 4. (d) 5. (a) 6. (e) 7. (a) 8. (b) 9. (d) 10. (c) 11. (c) 12. (d) 13. (e) 14. (e) 15. (a) 16. (d) 17. (b) 18. (d) 19. (b) 20. (d) 21. (e) 22. (b) 23. (d) 24.(a) 25. (d)
1. 80 50 130 100 180 150
900 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
Which number will come in place of (C) ?
(a) 1050 (b) 920 (c) 1000 (d) 950 (e) None of these
2. 60 121 131 264 284 571
120 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
Which number will come in place of (D) ?
(a) 324 (b) 1011 (c) 1010 (d) 514 (e) None of these
3. 2 4 9 20 43 90
31 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
Which number will come in place of (D) ?
(a) 7132 (b) 115 (c) 68 (d)117 (e) None of these
4. 14 42. 147 388 2646 13230
8 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
Which number will come in place of (E) ?
(a) 28 (b) 1176 (c) 294 (d)216 (e) None of these
5. 140 68 36 16 10 3
284 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
Which number will come in place of (C) ?
(a) 50 (b) 34 (c) 64 (d) 57 (e) None of these
6. 25 194 73 154 105 130
14 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
Which number will come in place of (E) ?
(a) 120 (b) 116 (c) 119 (d)202 (e) None of these
7. 6 8 20 36 76
20 (A) (B) (C) (D)
Which number will come in place of (C) ?
(a) 148 (b) 130 (c) 136 (d) 140 (e) None of these
8. 2 9 45 247.5 1485
3 (A) (B) (C) (D)
Which number will come in place of (B) ?
(a) 64.5 (b)72 (c) 7 (d)68 (e) 67.5
9. 3 4 10 33 136 685
q (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
Which number will come in place of (E) ?
(a)1160 (b) 920 (c) 1165 (d) 1840 (e) None of these
10. 200 184 193 157 182 118
150 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
Which number will come in place of (C) ?
(a) 132 (b) 115 (c) 68 (d) 117 (e) None of these
Il. 4 7 12 19 28 39
5 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
Which number will come in place of (D) ? :
(a) 29 (b) 24 (c) 36 (d) 42 (e) None of these
12. 77 78 77 81 73 82
86 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
Which number will come in place of (C)?
(a) 98 (b) 161 (c) 182 (d)90
(e) None of these
13. 2 3 8 27 112 565
5 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
Which number will come in place of (E) ?
(a) 680 (b) 670 (c)510 (d)430
(e) None of these
14. 121 250 777 3172 15985
160 (A) ( B) (C) (D)
Which number will come in place of (D) ?
(a) 4166 (b) 4132 (c) 4068 (d) 4128 (e) None of these
15. 50 99 301 1177 6141
80 (A) (B) (C) (D)
Which number will come in place of (C) ?
(a) 1920 (b) 1897 (c) 1910 (d) 1925 (e) None of these
ANSWERS
I (d) 2 (e) 3 (e) 4 (e) 5 (b) 6 (c) 7 (a) 8 (e) 9(c) 10(e)
IL (a) 12(d) 13 (e) 14 (e) 15 (b)