Q. Find the wrong number in the following series:3,12,16,80,85,504,516(A) 12(B) 16(C) 504(D) 516
Analyze the pattern: Analyze the pattern in the series.The series is 3,12,16,80,85,504,516. At first glance, there is no clear arithmetic or geometric progression. We need to look for another pattern or relationship between the numbers.
Examine differences or ratios: Look for a pattern by examining the differences or ratios between consecutive terms.The differences between the terms are as follows: 12−3=9, 16−12=4, 80−16=64, 85−80=5, 504−85=419, 516−504=12. The differences do not form a clear pattern.The ratios between the terms are as follows: 312=4, 1216=34, 1680=5, 8085=1.0625, 16−12=40, 16−12=41. The ratios also do not form a clear pattern.
Look for digit operations: Look for a pattern involving operations on the digits of each number or their positions in the series.Upon closer inspection, we can try to see if there's a multiplication pattern that involves adding or subtracting a certain value to get the next term.Let's check if each number (after the first) can be obtained by multiplying the previous number by a certain factor and then adding or subtracting a number that follows a pattern.3×4=12 (3 multiplied by 4)12×1+4=16 (12 multiplied by 1 and then add 4)16×5=80 (16 multiplied by 5)30 (31 multiplied by 1 and then add 5)34 (35 multiplied by 36)It seems like the pattern involves multiplying by an increasing number (37) and then adding the same number (38), but the last multiplication does not fit the pattern.
Verify pattern consistency: Verify the pattern found in Step 3 for all terms and identify the term that does not fit.Following the pattern, we should check if 504 is obtained correctly from 85.85×6=510, not 504. Therefore, 504 is the term that does not fit the pattern we have identified.
Confirm incorrect number: Confirm that the identified wrong number is indeed incorrect by checking the next term in the series.If 85×6=510, then the next term should be 510×1+6=516. This matches the last term in the series, confirming that 504 is the incorrect number.