Mental ability question 1,5,17,53,. ..

Hello,

The key to solve these questions is to find the connection between the consecutive terms.First of all the difference between the second and first term is 5-1 =4.

The difference between the third and second terms is 17-5 = 12.

Similarly the difference between the fourth and third terms is 53-17 = 36.

Now look the differences,they follow a different pattern.

4, 12, 36,...

The second term is actually 4 *3.That is 3 times the previous term.Similarly the third term is 3 times the second term (12*3 = 36).So the fourth term will be 3 times the third term 36*3 = 108.

Here 108 is the difference between the fourth and fifth terms of the actual series.Therefore the fifth term of the series will be 53+108 = 161.

Hope this helps!!

Hello,

In the given numerical, 1,5,17,53,.. if we observe the trend then,

• 1
• 1 + ( 1 x 4 ) = 1 + 4 = 5
• 5 + ( 4 x 3 ) = 5 + 12 = 17
• 17 + ( 12 x 3 ) = 17 + 36 = 53

Hence, the next numbers will be,

• 53 + ( 36 x 3 ) = 53 + 108 = 161
• 161 + ( 108 x 3 ) = 161 + 324 = 485
• 485 + ( 324 x 3 ) = 485 + 972 = 1457

Hence, the series will be, 1, 5, 17, 53, 161, 485, 1457,...

Best Wishes.