What should be the next number in the following series? 100 96 104 88 120 56
184
184
184
184 * 100 to 96, subtract 4 * 96 to 104, add 8 * 104 to 88, subtract 16 * 88 to 120, add 32 * 120 to 56, subtract 64 * 56 to 184, add 128 See the pattern here? you alternate subtraction and addition in between each two numbers and double the value to add or subtract each time.
56. The difference between one term and the next is -2 x the previous difference. 88 to 120 is +32, so the next term is 120 - 64 = 56
-4 +8 -16 +32 -64 +128 Next number in this sequence is 184
The answer is -364
184. The difference between each term is -2 times the previous difference: 100 + -4 = 96 96 + (-4 x -2 = 96 + 8 = 104 104 + (8 x -2) = 104 + -16 = 88 88 + (-16 x -2) = 88 + 32 = 120 120 + (32 x -2) = 120 + -64 = 56 So the next difference is -64 x -2 = 128: 56 + (-64 x -2) = 56 + 128 = 184
120 - 104 equals = 16
100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120 . . .
The next whole number is 120