32 ... 36 ... 9 ... 12 ... 4 ... 6 ... ? ok I see the reduction subtraction pattern -4 ,-3 ,-2~~~~~but how do i know what the next number is?
2006-11-20 13:17:21 · 4 answers · asked by Belinda M 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
add 4, divide by 4
add 3, divide by 3
add 2, divide by 2
the answer is 3
2006-11-20 13:20:13 · answer #1 · answered by Math Geek 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is an addition and division pattern at work here. First we add a number to the first number on the list, then we divide its result by the same number we added before to produce a new result. You are correct that there is a sort of subtraction pattern, in so far as the number being added or used as a divisor decreases by 1 with every two numbers on the list. Here it is:
32+4=36, 36/4=9, 9+3=12, 12/3=4, 4+2=6, 6/2=3
So 3 is the next element in the list. The fact that you cannot predict what the next number in the sequence will be shows that you haven't actually seen the pattern, because one knows what the next number will be by discerning the pattern and applying the rule.
2006-11-20 13:53:29 · answer #2 · answered by MathBioMajor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3
2006-11-20 13:19:09 · answer #3 · answered by Sora Aoi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
next is 3
2006-11-20 13:20:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋