Odd Man Out Questions

With close observation, you will note that each number in the list is in the middle of two prime numbers. Thus:

4 is in the middle of 3 and 5, 6 is in the middle of 5 and 7, 12 is in the middle of 11 and 13, 18 is in the middle of 17 and 19, 30 is in the middle of 29 and 31. 42 is in the middle of 41 and 43, 60 is in the middle of 59 and 61.

Therefore, the next number would be the one that is in the middle of the next two prime numbers, which is 72 (which is in the middle of 71 and 73).

The given number series follows a pattern that

5 x 5 – 1 = 24

24 x 4 – 2 = 94

94 x 3 – 3 = 279

279 x 2 – 4 = 554

Terms at odd places are 5, 6, 7, 8 etc. and each term at even place is 16.

So, 9 is wrong.

Given number series follows a pattern that,

2

2 x 1.5 + 1 = 4

4 x 1.5 + 1 = 7 (not equal to 8)

7 x 1.5 + 1 = 11.5

11.5 x 1.5 + 1 = 18.25

18.25 x 1.5 + 1 = 28.375

Hence, the odd number in the given number series is 8.

Here the given number series is 3, 14, 36, 67, 113, 168

It follows a pattern that

3

3 + 1 x 11 = 3 + 11 = 14

14 + 2 x 11 = 14 + 22 = 36

36 + 3 x 11 = 36 + 33 = 69

69 + 4 x 11 = 69 + 44 = 113

113 + 5 x 11 = 113 + 55 = 168

Hence, the wrong number is 67.

  4             3             4             7               15        ?
×1-1      ×1+1       ×2-1       ×2+1           ×3-1

15x3 - 1 = 45 - 1 = 44

Here the given number series is 2 4 27 256 3125 46656

It follows a pattern that,

$$\begin{gathered} 11 = 1 \\ 22 = 4 \\ 33 = 27 \\ 44 = 256 \\ 55 = 3125 \\ 66 = 46656 \end{gathered}$$

Hence the wrong number in the given number series is 2 instead of 1.

Given 311   230   294   ?   281   256

311 - (9x9) = 230

230 + (8x8) = 294

294 - (7x7) = 245

245 + (6x6) = 281

281 - (5x5) = 256

Hence, the missing number in the given series is 245.