What the next number in this sequence?

Question

1 5 17 53 161...........
First to get it right gets the "best answer" ratings! Have fun, good luck!

Answer 1

t1=1
t2=1+4*3^0=5
t3=1+4*(3^0+3^1)=17
t4=1+4*(3^0+3^1+3^2)=53
t5=1+4*(3^0+3^1+3^2+3^3)=161
Next term is 1+4*(3^0+3^1+3^2+3^3+3^4)=485

Answer 2

1, 5, 17, 53, 161, 324

1,5 ... 5 - 1 = 4 (4 * 3 = 12)
5, 17 ... 17 - 5 = 12 (12 * 3 = 36)
17, 53 ... 53 - 17 = 36 (36 * 3 = 108)
53, 161 ... 161 - 53 = 108 (108 * 3 = 324)

Hope this is right, was a challenge! Had to search the next for inspiartion and ways to solve for these answers.
Jennifer

Answer 3

i will see that the 1st, third and so on. numbers multiply by using 3 every time. i will see that the 2d, 4th and so on. numbers subtract 2 every time. which might supply a continuation to the sequence: 2 9 6 7 18 5 fifty 4 3 162 a million 486... with fifty 4 the for the asked seventh term. even however, there are an endless form of formulae for the guy words which might supply any value to the seventh term!!!

Answer 4

485. each next number is 3 times as much as is in between the previous numbers added to the last number. um...5-1=4. so there's 4 in between 1 and 5. then 17-5=12 so there's 12 in between 5 and 17 which is 3 times 4 and so on.

sorry, my math was off.

Answer 5

485

Answer 6

485

Answer 7

121

Answer 8

485 smartass

Answer 9

485

the difference between adjacent numbers in the series is 4*3^n where n is the n'th number in the series... just so that you know i'm not copying :-P