GCAT - General Cognitive Ability Numerical Series Patterns Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which number logically follows in this sequence? 4, 5, 9, 18, 34, ?
- 44
- 51
- 59 (Correct answer)
- 67
Correct answer: 59
The pattern involves adding consecutive perfect squares to the previous number. First, 1^2 (1) is added to 4 to get 5. Then, 2^2 (4) is added to 5 to get 9. Then, 3^2 (9) is added to 9 to get 18. Then, 4^2 (16) is added to 18 to get 34. Finally, 5^2 (25) must be added to 34, which results in 59.
Question 2: A data analyst is tracking weekly user engagement. The numbers for the past six weeks are: 88, 82, 92, 76, 102, 64. What is the next number in this series?
- 118 (Correct answer)
- 112
- 58
- 124
Correct answer: 118
This is an alternating series with two separate patterns. The first pattern (88, 92, 102) increases by 4, then by 10. This is not a simple arithmetic progression. The second pattern (82, 76, 64) consistently decreases by 6, then by 12. Let's re-examine. The series alternates between subtraction and addition with an increasing value. 88 - 6 = 82; 82 + 10 = 92; 92 - 16 = 76; 76 + 26 = 102; 102 - 38 = 64. This is too complex. Let's try another approach: There are two interleaved series. The first is 88, 92, 102, ?. The differences are +4, +10. The second series is 82, 76, 64. The difference is -6, -12. Let's try a different main pattern: 88 (-6) -> 82; 82 (+10) -> 92; 92 (-16) -> 76; 76 (+26) -> 102; 102 (-38) -> 64. The differences are -6, +10, -16, +26, -38. The differences between these operations are +16, -26, +42, -64. This is also too complex. Let's reconsider two interleaved series: Series 1: 88, 92, 102, X. Series 2: 82, 76, 64. The pattern for Series 2 is -6, -12. The pattern for Series 1 is +4, +10. The difference of differences is +6. So the next difference should be 10+6=16. The next number in Series 1 is 102 + 16 = 118.
Question 3: Find the missing number in the following series: 3, 9, 4, 12, 5, 15, 6, ?
- 7
- 16
- 18 (Correct answer)
- 21
Correct answer: 18
The pattern alternates between two operations: multiplying by 3 and then subtracting 5. However, a simpler pattern exists. The sequence is formed by pairs of numbers. The second number in each pair is three times the first. 3 * 3 = 9; 4 * 3 = 12; 5 * 3 = 15. The next pair should be 6 and (6 * 3), which is 18.
Question 4: Which of the following numbers would correctly complete the series: 120, 99, 80, 63, 48, ?
- 35 (Correct answer)
- 34
- 37
- 39
Correct answer: 35
The series is decreasing by consecutive odd numbers, starting with 21. 120 - 21 = 99; 99 - 19 = 80; 80 - 17 = 63; 63 - 15 = 48. The next odd number to subtract is 13. So, 48 - 13 = 35.
Question 5: A system's performance metric is recorded as follows: 2, 8, 26, 80, ?. What is the next value in this pattern?
- 164
- 242 (Correct answer)
- 208
- 320
Correct answer: 242
The pattern is to multiply the previous number by 3 and add 2. (2 * 3) + 2 = 8; (8 * 3) + 2 = 26; (26 * 3) + 2 = 80. The next number is (80 * 3) + 2 = 242.
Question 6: Given the sequence 5, 6, 10, 19, 35, what is the next term?
- 45
- 50
- 60 (Correct answer)
- 55
Correct answer: 60
The difference between consecutive numbers is increasing. 6 - 5 = 1; 10 - 6 = 4; 19 - 10 = 9; 35 - 19 = 16. The differences are 1, 4, 9, 16, which are the squares of consecutive integers (1^2, 2^2, 3^2, 4^2). The next difference should be 5^2, which is 25. Therefore, the next term in the series is 35 + 25 = 60.
GCAT - General Cognitive Ability Numerical Series Patterns Questions and Answers
Which number logically follows in this sequence?
4, 5, 9, 18, 34, ?