Question

Find the next number in the series 7, 9, 14, 27, 28, 81, ?

• A. 62
• B. 84
• C. 65
• D. 56

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

To find the next number in the series 7, 9, 14, 27, 28, 81, ?, we need to identify the pattern or rule that the series follows.

Let's break down the series step-by-step:

1. The series starts with 7.
2. The second number is 9: This can be achieved by adding 2 to 7. Thus, 7 + 2 = 9.
3. The third number is 14: We notice that adding 5 to 9 gives 14. Hence, 9 + 5 = 14.
4. The fourth number is 27: By adding 13 to 14, we obtain 27. Thus, 14 + 13 = 27.
5. The fifth number is 28: Here, we add 1 to 27 to get 28. Therefore, 27 + 1 = 28.
6. The sixth number is 81: When we add 53 to 28, we arrive at 81. Hence, 28 + 53 = 81.

From the above, the series follows a specific pattern of adding numbers: 2, 5, 13, 1, 53.

To find the pattern of numbers being added, let's observe:

1. The sequence of numbers being added is 2, 5, 13, 1, 53.
2. It appears that these numbers might be part of a certain sequence or manipulation:

One potential observation is that the numbers added are seemingly alternating between simple small numbers and large numbers. Let's hypothesize that the next number to be added would be a smaller one again after a very large number:

1. From 7 to 9, we add 2;
2. From 9 to 14, we add 5;
3. From 14 to 27, we add 13, which is large relative to earlier addends;
4. From 27 to 28, we add 1, a relatively small number;
5. From 28 to 81, we add 53, a significantly large number.

Continuing this pattern, the next addition after the large number 53 should be a small number again.

Given our choices:

• 62
• 84
• 65
• 56

The number 56 fits because it is derived by adding a moderate value of 25 (a smaller increase after a larger one, fitting an alternating pattern) from 81:

• Next number = 81 - 25 = 56.

Hence, the next number in the series is a smaller number, and therefore, the correct answer is 56.