Question

Find the next number in the series: 499, 622, 868, 1237, 1729, 2344.
(a) 3205
(b) 3082
(c) 2959
(d) 3462
(e) 2876

Answer 1

Hint: Try to determine the relationship between the numbers in the series and then determine the next number in the series.

Complete step-by-step answer:

Let us find the difference between the consecutive numbers in the series.
622 – 499 = 123
868 – 622 = 246
1237 – 868 = 369
1729 – 1237 = 492
2344 – 1729 = 615
We get the differences as 123, 246, 369, 492 and 615.
We now try to identify some special relation between the differences.
The differences can be expressed as follows:
123 = 1 × 123
246 = 2 × 123
369 = 3 × 123
492 = 4 × 123
615 = 5 × 123
Hence, they all follow a particular pattern of adding a multiple of 123 to the previous term in the series.
By using this relation, we can easily determine the next term in the series.
The next term can be obtained by adding 6 × 123 to the previous term, that is, 2344.
We know that 6 × 123 is equal to 738. Hence, the next term in the series is:
2344 + 738 = 3082
Therefore, the next term in the series is 3082.
Hence, the correct answer is option (b).

Note: You just have to use trial and error method using the arithmetic operations until you find the relation between the terms in the series. While solving such numerical ability questions, we have to address only what is relevant to the given question.