Aptitude

Number Series Interview Questions

Find the next number: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ? — spoken sample answer for Indian interviews.

  • 5Questions with answers
  • 3Difficulty levels

Questions (5)

Browse beginner, intermediate, and advanced questions with answers — hide them when you want to self-test.

Question 1
Interview Beginner
Question

Find the next number: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?

Answer:

I look at the gaps: plus 4, plus 6, plus 8, plus 10, so the next gap is plus 12. 30 plus 12 is 42. Another way to see it: 1 times 2, 2 times 3, 3 times 4, 4 times 5, 5 times 6, so the next is 6 times 7 = 42. I would mark 42.

Question 2
Interview Beginner
Question

Next: 3, 9, 27, 81, ?

Answer:

Times 3. Next 243. I state the rule before the number. MCQs put 162 to catch add-81 mistakes.

Question 3
Interview Advanced
Question

2, 3, 8, 27, 112, ?

Answer:

Times n plus n: 2*1+1=3, 3*2+2=8, then 27, 112, next 112*5+5=565. If I cannot see it in 30 seconds I skip on a timed paper.

Question 4
Interview Beginner
Question

Odd one out: 8, 27, 64, 100, 125.

Answer:

Cubes except 100 which is 10 squared. Odd one is 100. I check squares and cubes first on integer lists.

Question 5
Interview Intermediate
Question

How do you attack a series you do not recognize?

Answer:

Differences, second differences, multiply factor, plus n, primes, squares. Then mark and move. I do not fit a cubic to four points on NQT. Process beats stubbornness.

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