Question

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

Answer 1

24 my boy

Answer 2

plz explain

Answer 3

every next odd no is twice the previous odd no..observe!

Answer 4

@PrincetonTiger no giving out answers

Answer 5

There are infinitely many answers. Which do you suppose is wanted?

Answer 6

I like 111.

Answer 7

i dont have 111 in my choices

Answer 8

@tkhunny no there is only one answer..i ask you too to observe the patterns of every odd no (i.e. 1,3,5 ..) in the pattern

Answer 9

ok thx

Answer 10

@PrincetonTiger any finite set of values cannot be construed as having only one solution for "the next" value. There is no generally valid argument for "the simplest solution". This type of question should not EVER be asked except as a theoretical construct to see if the student knows there are infinitely many solutions. Your premise is easily rejected by my 111. This is equally sound and can be supported mathematically. Please give up any such hope that there is only one solution, no matter how clear or obvious the apparent pattern.

@lalaioio It is of no consequence if your answer sheet does not have 111. As the question is stated, 111 is a valid response. I would be happy to argue it to any level of objection necessary. There are infinitely many possible CORRECT responses to the prompt, as presented. I can produce them as quickly as I can type.

Answer 11

so can 24 be the answer

Answer 12

24 certainly is a possible correct answer. It is likely that I can also produce a rule for ANYTHING else on your answer sheet.

Answer 13

@tkhunny my friend by every odd number i mean 3,6,12..etc i.e. the odd(1st, 3rd, 5th..) digits in the sequence. i am afraid you are just creating 1s out of nowhere.dont confuse him please

Answer 14

24 is the answer..go ahead with it..there is only one possible answer..and the question is definitely alright

Answer 15

@PrincetonTiger You clearly do not understand sufficient mathematics to answer this question in its entirety. You are simply incorrect. You see a pattern. I see it too. I have demonstrated another pattern. This is irrefutable. With just the slightest variation, 110 is another valid solution. With just the slightest variation, 106 is another valid solution, With just the slightest variation, 76 is another valid solution, With just the slightest variation, 96 is another valid solution, With just the slightest variation, 86 is another valid solution. Like I said, infinitely many.

Answer 16

well he is asking for the nest number..why is 110 a valid solution? it simply isnt. and for kind info i have done more than you did. no need for that

Answer 17

(sigh) Continue with your studies. You will see it, one day.

Answer 18

why would you give me a warning? your language was way worse than me? I am a princeton student for your kind information. try to argue respectively and if you dont know the answer just accept that you are wrong

Answer 19

there is no mathematically correct series..this question is just created to test whether the students understand the pattern right there or not..try working more on the series question..you MIGHT be able to master them one day

Answer 20

I have no interest in warnings and wouldn't know how to do that if I wanted to. If you received a warning, it was not from me.

"there is no mathematically correct series"

I agree with this, since there are infinitely many. You are already beginning to see. Good work.

Answer 21

okay so does that mean that you are accepting that you were initially wrong? since you said the question shouldnt be like this?

Answer 22

you got to be kidding me seriously..if there are infinitely many correct series that does not NECESSARILY mean that they will be asking you to write whatever comes to your mind..they create one series and want you to figure out a pattern..my guess is that you never did those problems..time to go back to high school

Answer 23

I have done many such problems. I have objected to every one that is worded incorrectly. I have confronted every examiner who believes there is only one possible response.

If the problem statement asks for "a possible next value that can be supported", the problem has been stated correctly.

If the problem statement asks for "the next value in the finite sequence", the problem has been stated incorrectly.

Seriously, if this were a question on a Standardized Examination (SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT, name it), I would be happy to argue its validity at any level. If there are five answer choices and only one is deemed acceptable, I would be happy to argue that the judgment of the answer key is incorrect.

You have argued my point very well. You stated: "...and want you to figure out A pattern.." (Emphasis Added) That is not what the problem statement says. It says "THE" next number, not "A" next number. If the problem statement said "A" next number, I would have no objection as long as there was at least one reasonable choice in the answer section. 24 is one such reasonable choice. Of course, there are infinitely many more reasonable choices.

Words mean things.