Question

Look at this series: $53,53,40,40,27,27,....$
What number should come next?
A.$12$
B.$14$
C.$27$
D.$52$

Answer 1

Hint: Here first of all we will identify the given series and its pattern followed for the next consecutive terms by using basic four functions that are division, multiplication, addition and subtraction and accordingly will find out the correct option.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Take the given expression: $53,53,40,40,27,27,....$
First of all observe the above series, and here we can observe that the two consecutive terms are identical means with the same value.
Find the difference of consecutive terms –
$
  53 - 53 = 0 \\
  53 - 40 = 13 \\
  40 - 40 = 0 \\
  40 - 27 = 13 \\
  27 - 27 = 0 \;
 $
Like the series follows the pattern in such a way that –
Pair of same terms, difference of $13$, same value as the previous number, again difference of $13$, same value as the previous number and so next term will be the difference of $13$.
So, it follows the pattern of difference as below –
$0, - 13,0, - 13,0, - 13.,,,,$
The next required term will be $27 - 13 = 14$
From the given multiple choices, option B is the correct answer.
So, the correct answer is “Option B”.

Note: Be good in the basic mathematical operations and also combinations of the functions. Be careful about the sign convention and mostly during the plus or minus of the terms. Since in the given series, values were either same or decreasing , we have used subtraction but if there is an increase in the values of the terms, the difference of the first term from the second term. Just the vice-versa.