Odd man out and series

user November 8, 2023

(6) Which of the following numbers does not belong in the series: 2, 7, 14, 20, 28, 32, 41, 50?

(a) 28
(b) 20
(c) 32
(d) 41

Correct Answer: (b) 20
The pattern is adding consecutive prime numbers: 5, 7, 3, 5, 7, 3, …
$2+5, 7+7, 14+3, 20+5, 28+7, 32+3, 41+7, \ldots$
The number 20 does not fit this pattern.

(7) Look at this series: 36, 34, 30, 28, 24, 22, … What number should fill the blank?

(a) 16
(b) 20
(c) 18
(d) 14

Correct Answer: (b) 20
The pattern is subtracting 2 and then subtracting 4.
$36-2, 34-4, 30-2, 28-4, 24-2, 22-4, \ldots$
The next number should be $ 20-2 = 18 $.

(8) Which number does not belong in the series: 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 200?

(a) 200
(b) 25
(c) 100
(d) 10

Correct Answer: (c) 100
The pattern is multiplying by 2 and then dividing by 2.
$5 \times 2, 10 \div 2, 20 \times 2, 25 \div 2, 50 \times 2, 100 \div 2, \ldots$
The number 100 does not follow this pattern.

(9) Look at this series: 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, … What number should fill the blank?

(a) 192
(b) 192
(c) 384
(d) 76

Correct Answer: (b) 192
This is a simple doubling series; each number is twice the previous number.
$3 \times 2, 6 \times 2, 12 \times 2, 24 \times 2, 48 \times 2, 96 \times 2, \ldots$
The next number is $ 192 \times 2 = 384 $.

(10) Which number does not belong in the series: 2, 5, 9, 14, 20, 28, 37?

(a) 14
(b) 20
(c) 28
(d) 37

Correct Answer: (d) 37
The pattern is adding consecutive prime numbers: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, …
$2+3, 5+4, 9+5, 14+6, 20+7, 28+8, \ldots$
The number 37 does not fit this pattern.

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