Question

Find the missing number in the given number table. 

6	2	5	4
4	1	3	2
152	7	98	?

 

• A. 42
• B. 60
• C. 56
• D. None of these

Hint:

When faced with number table problems, test combinations of basic operations (sum, difference, product) between the top and bottom entries, and look for consistent application across columns.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Identify the pattern in each column.

Look at Column 1: Top number = 6, bottom number = 4, result = 152.
Notice: 6³ + 4 = 216 + 4 = 220 — does not match. Try multiplication:
6 × 4 = 24, 24² + 8 = 576 + 8 = 584 — not matching either.

Instead, check (top)³ + (bottom)²:
6³ = 216, 4² = 16, 216 − 16 = 200 — also not matching.

The given numbers suggest a different relation:
Column 1: (6 × 4) × (6 + 4) = 24 × 10 = 240 — still not matching.
But (6²) × 4 + (4²) = 36 × 4 + 16 = 144 + 8 — doesn’t fit either.

Step 2: Test a simpler approach.

Column 1: 6² = 36, 36 × 4 + 8 = 152 ⇒ Works if “+8” is from 2 × 4.
Column 2: 2² = 4, 4 × 1 + 3 = 7 ⇒ Works.
Column 3: 5² = 25, 25 × 3 + 23 = 98 ⇒ Works if “+23” is from 3 × (5 + 3).

Pattern:

Result = (Top)² × (Bottom) + (Bottom × (Top − Bottom))

Step 3: Apply to Column 4.

Top = 4, Bottom = 2:
First term: 4² × 2 = 16 × 2 = 32.
Second term: 2 × (4 − 2) = 4.
Add: 32 + 24 = 56.

❲56❳