What is the next number in the series below 3 16 6 12 12 8?

Answer 1

You could consult the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences, but it does not have this sequence.

http://www.research.att.com/~njas/sequences/

Note: the mathematical term "series" refers to a sum. The series is 3 + 16 + 6 +... In mathematics, a list of numbers like that is referred to as a "sequence."

Also, while your question does not explicity state this, the meaning of your sentence should be "what is the next most likely number..." as many different sequences start out with the same terms. Try checking 1,2,3, at the OEIS, and you'll see a large number of possibilities for the 4th term.

However, to address your particular sequence, here's a technique that is sometimes used:

Consider the following two sequences:

1,2,3,4,5,6,7...

5,10,15,20,25,...

Now consider the sequence

1,5,2,10,3,15,4,20,... If you work your sequence backwards, you'll see that this technique will lead to a possible answer.