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8 Series

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Chapter

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2

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Series

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INT RODUCTION
A series is a sequence of numbers/alphabetical letters or both which follow a
particular rule. Each element of series is called ‘term’. We have to analyse the
pattern and find the missing term or next term to continue the pattern.
Types of series are explained in the following chart:
SERIES

Number Alphabet Alpha-numeric Mixed Continuous Pattern Correspondence

series series series series series series

A series that is A series that is A series in A series which A series of letters, A series consists of
made by only made by only which both is created by which follow a three sequence with
alphabets and the combination certain pattern, is three different
number or digit alphabetic letters of two or more
numbers are given with four / elements (for ex.
than two series five times blank capital letters,
used
1. Ascending series spaces in between. numbers and small
2. Descending series The order of letters). An element
missing letters of each sequence is
3. Oscillating series correspond to the
is correct answer.
element of other
sequence on the
basis of the similarity
in position.

NUMBER SERIES · Cube and cube roots of a numbers.

Number series is a form of numbers in · Addition
a certain sequence, where some Arithmetic Subtraction
numbers are mistakenly put into the Operations Division
series of numbers and some number is Multiplication
missing in that series, we need to
observe first and then find the accurate Types of Number Series
number to that series of numbers.
1. Perfect Square Series
Remember This type of serics are based on
square of a number which is in
· Even and odd numbers.
same order and one square number
· Prime and composite numbers. is missing in that given series.
· Square and square roots of a
EXAMPLE 841, ?, 2401, 3481, 4761
numbers.
Sol. 292, 392, 452, 592, 692
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Series 9

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2. Perfect Cube series

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EXAMPLE 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, __ , 19
Perfect Cube series is a

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arrangement of numbers is a Sol. Here, the terms of the series are the

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certain order, where some number prime numbers in order. The prime

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which is in same order and one number, after 13 is 17. So, the

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cube is missing in that given

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answer to this question is 17.

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series.

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6. Alternate Primes

EXAMPLE 4096, 4913, 5832, ?, 8000
Sol. 163, 173, 183, 193, 203
3. Mixed number series
Mixed number series is a
arrangement of numbers in a
certain order. This type of series
are more than are different order
which arranged in alternatively in
single series or created according
to any non conventional rule.
EXAMPLE 6, ?, 33, 69, 141, 285
Sol. × 2 + 3, × 2 + 3, × 2 + 3, × 2 + 3,
× 2 + 3, × 2 + 3
4. Geometric Series
Geometric Number series is a
arrangement of numbers in a
certain order, where some numbers
are this type of series are based on
ascending or descending order of
numbers and each continues
number is obtain by multiplication
or division of the previous number
with a static number.
In geometric series number is a
combination of number arranged.
EXAMPLE 21, 84, 336, ?, 5376
Sol. 21 × 4 = 84
84 × 4 = 336
336 × 4 = 1344
1344 × 4 = 5376
5. Prime series
When numbers are a series of
prime numbers.
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It can be explained by below
example.
EXAMPLE 2, 11, 17, 13, __, 41
Sol. Here, the series is framed by taking
the alternative prime numbers.
After 23, the prime numbers are 29
and 31. So, the answer is 31.
7. The difference of any term
from its succeding term is
constant (either increasing
series or decreasing series):
EXAMPLE 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, __, 25
Sol. Here, the differnce of any term
from its succeding term is 3.
7–4=3
10 – 7 = 3
So, the answer is 19 + 3 = 22
8. The difference between two
consecutive terms will be
either increasing or decreasing
by a constant number:
EXAMPLE 2, 10, 26, 50, 82, __
Sol. Here, the difference between two
consecutive terms are
10 – 2 = 8
26 – 10 = 16
50 – 26 = 24
82 – 50 = 32
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10 Series

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Here, the difference is increased 12. Every third number can be the

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by 8 (or you can say the multiples product of the preceeding two

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of 8). So the next difference will be numbers :

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40 (32 + 8). So, the answer is 82 +

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40 = 122 EXAMPLE 1, 2, 2, 4, 8, 32. __

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9. The difference between two Sol. Here, starting from the third number

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numbers can be multiplied by

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1×2=2

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a constant number: 2×2=4
EXAMPLE 15, 16, 19, 28, 55, __ 2×4=8
Sol. Here, the differences between two 4 × 8 = 32
numbers are So, the answer is 8 × 32 = 256
16 – 15 = 1 13. Every succeeding term is got by
19 – 16 = 3 multiplying the previous term
28 – 19 = 9 by a constant number or
55 – 28 = 27
numbers which follow a
Here, the difference is multiplied
by 3. So, the next difference will be
special pattern.
81. So, the answer is 55 + 81 = 136 EXAMPLE 5, 15, 45, 135, __
10. The difference can be
Sol. Here,
multiples by number which
will be increasing by a constant 5 × 3 = 15
number: 15 × 3 = 45
45 × 3 = 135
EXAMPLE 2, 3, 5, 11, 35, __
So, the answer is 135 × 3 = 405
Sol. The difference between two
number are 14. In certain series the terms are
3–2=1 formed by various rule
5–3=2 (miscellaneous rules). By keen
11 – 5 = 6 observation you have to find
35 – 11 = 24 out the rule and the
11. Every third number can be the appropriate answer.
sum of the preceding two
numbers : EXAMPLE 4, 11, 31, 90, __
Sol. Terms are,
EXAMPLE 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, __
4 × 3 – 1 = 11
Sol. Here, starting from third number
3+5=8 11 × 3 – 2 = 31
5 + 8 = 13 31 × 3 – 3 = 90
8 + 13 = 21 So, the answer will be 90 × 3 – 4
So, the answer is 13 + 21 = 34 = 266
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Series 11

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q Shortcut Approach

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×4 ×3 ×4 ×3 ×4

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· First check the direct formulas.

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(B) 1 3 12 60 ?
· If all the numbers are even, odd or

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1 3 12 60 360

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prime.

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×3 ×4 ×5 ×6

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· If all the number are perfect squares

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(ii) If numbers are in descending
or cubes.

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order in the number series,
· If all the numbers have a particular · Numbers may be subtracted or
divisibility. divided by certain numbers from
· If all the numbers are succeeding the first number.
by some additions or subtraction (A) 34 18 10 6 4 ?
or multiplications or divisions by a 34 18 10 6 4 3
particular number or addition of –16 –8 –4 –2 –1
their cubes and squares.
(B) 720 120 24 6 2 1 ?
720 120 24 6 2 1 1
Remember
/6 /5 /4 /3 /2
· When the difference between the
consecutive numbers is same/ (iii) If numbers are in mixing order
constant or the number series is in (increasing and decreasing) in
arithmetic progression. the number series.
· Numbers may be in addition,
a, a + d, a + 2d, ..., a + ( n – 1) d. subtraction, multiplication and
Where 'a' is first term, d is the division in the alternate numbers.
common difference. 200 165 148 117 104 ?
200 165 148 117 104 77
· When any number series is in the (14) 2+4 (13) 2–4 (12) 2+4 (11) 2–4 (10) 2+4 (9) 2–4
form a, a + (a + 1), a + (a + 1) + (a + 2),
... , n th term of the series be Step 1: Check whether it is ascending,
é n(n + 1) ù descending or mixed order.
ê 2 ú Step 2: It is in mixing order. So it may
ë û be in addition, subtraction, division
and multiplication, squares and cubes.
q Shortcut Approach Step 3: In above series it is mixing of
square, addition and subtraction.
(i) If numbers are in ascending order
(14)2 = 196 + 4 = 200
in the number series.
(13)2 = 169. By adding 4 it gives 173.
· Numbers may be added or Try subtraction.
multiplied by certain numbers 169 – 4 = 165
from the first number.
Here we found it is in order of squaring
(A) 19 23 26 30 33 ? a number, adding by 4 and subtracting
19 23 26 30 33 37 by 4.
Hence, the answer for above series is 77.
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12 Series

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200 165 148 117 104 ? EXAMPLE K 1, M 3, P 5, T 7, ?

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Sol. Alphabets follow the sequence

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–35 –17 –31 –13
K M P T Y

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+18 –14 –18 –14

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\ = – 13 – 14 = – 27 +2

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+3 +4 +5

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(B)
14 17 31 48 ? 127 MIXED SERIES
14 17 31 48 79 127
EXAMPLE Z, L, X, J, V, H, T, F, __, __
14+17=31 17+31=48 31+48=79
Sol. The given sequence consists of
two series
ALPHABET SERIES (i) Z, X, V, T, __
(ii) L, J, H, F, __. Both consisting
A series that is made by only alphabetic of alternate letters in the reverse
letters. order.
EXAMPLE G, H, J, M, ? \ Next term of (i) series = R, and
Next term of (ii) series = D
Sol. G H J M Q
+1 +2 +3 +4
CONTINUOUS PATTERN
SERIES
q Shortcut Approach It is a series of small/capital letters that
· Remember all the alphabets and follow a certain pattern like repetition of
their place number. letters.
· Intervals like : EXAMPLE b a a b – a b a – b b a – –
E J O T Y , C F I L O R U X
Sol. b a a b b a / b a a b b a / b a
5 10 15 20 25 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 q Shortcut Approach
ALPHA NUMERIC SERIES · Firstly, count the number of blanks
and given letters.
These kind of problems used both
mathematical operation and position of · Divide the whole sum of blanks and
letters in the alphabet in forward, letters by a multiple.
backward order. · Note down the pattern common to
all groups separately.

ebooks Reference Page No.

Practice Exercise with Hints & Solutions – P-8-14

Chapter Test – C-3-4

Solved Papers