www.eenadupratibha.

net
BANK EXAMS
QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE
Number Series
Number series tests present numerical sequences that follow a logical rule which is based on

e t
elementary arithmetic. An initial sequence is given from which the rule is to be deduced. You are then asked

. n
to predict the next number or missing number that obeys the rule. Some times you need to find out the wrong
number in that series which doesn't follow that rule. To find the rule the following tips will be helpful.
1. Try to identify numbers

h a
They may be even numbers, odd numbers, prime numbers, squares, cubes etc., or some times they may
be more / less than them
e.g.: 26, 37, 50, 65, 82, ..........
i b
102 + 1 = 101
a t
Here the numbers in the series are 52 + 1, 62 + 1, 72 + 1, 82 + 1 and 92 + 1. The next number will be

r
up
2. Examine the difference between adjacent numbers.
The difference between two consecutive numbers may be constant, continuously

e.g.: 8, 13, 18, 23, 28, ...........

a d
increasing / decreasing, prime numbers, squares, or cubes etc

e n
Here difference between the adjacent numbers is 5. The next number is 28 + 5 = 33
e.g.: 25, 30, 37, 48, 61, ...........

w e
Here the differences between the adjacent numbers are 5, 7, 11, and 13 which are prime numbers. The

.
next number will be 61 + 17 = 78

t
3.

w w
Observe whether there is a multiplication or division pattern between two adjacent numbers.
e.g.: 8, 16, 48, 192, 960, .............
n e
960 × 6 = 5760
a .
Here the relation between the adjacent numbers is × 2, × 3, × 4 and × 5. The next number will be

4.
below series, the functions alternate in an orderly fashion.
b h
See if you can find a rule that involves using two or more basic arithmetic functions (+, −, ÷, ×). In the

e.g.: 5, 7, 21, 23, 69, 71, ..............

t i
Here the relation between the adjacent numbers is + 2, × 3, + 2, × 3 and + 2. The next number will be

5.
71 × 3 = 213
Alternate Series
r a
another series.
u p
Some times two number series are given in a single sequence. In odd places one series and even places

d
e.g.: 7, 5, 9, 15, 12, 45, 16, 135, ..........

a
e n
Here, Odd places numbers are 7, 9, 12, 16, .....
Differences between the numbers are 2, 3, and 4.

.e
The next number will be 16 + 5 = 21
Even places numbers are 5, 15, 45, and 135

w ww
The relation between the numbers is × 3.
Exercise
Directions (Q.1 - 5): What should come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series
questions?
1. 2 1 1 1.5 3 ?
1) 7.5 2) 6 3) 5 4) 4.5
5) 2.5

R-28-3-15
www.eenadupratibha.net
 www.eenadupratibha.net
2. 51 66 83 102 123 ?
1) 127 2) 146 3) 171 4) 85
5) None of these
3. 4
1) 2622
24 84 264 804
2) 2464
?
3) 2414 4) 2424
e t
4.
5) 2484
24 36.2 30.4 33.6 32 ?
. n
1) 32.8
5) None of these
2) 36.2 3) 34.6

ha 4) 38.8

5. 6 9 13.5 20.25 30.375 ?

i b
1) 45.7585
5) 49.7525
2) 46.7520
t
3) 28.7345

a
4) 45.5625

What is that missing number?

p r
Directions (Q.6 - 10): In each of the following questions, a number series is given. One number is missing.

6. 2
1) 14
? 19 45 99
2) 7
209

d u 431
3) 3 4) 12
5) 9

n a
7. ?
1) 2
5) None
4

.e e 6 12 30 90
2) 3
315
3) 2.5 4) 4

8. 48

w w 62 78 96 116 ? 162

e t
w
1) 150
5) None of these
2) 124 3) 142

.
4) 138

n
9. 54
1) 18
35 ? 3 −10 −21
2) 24
−30
3) 28
h a 4) 12

10.
5) None
11 12 20 43 ? 339.5 1194.25
i b
1) 136 2) 124

a
3) 111.5
t 4) 225
5) None of these

p r
Directions (Q.11 - 15): In each of the following number series questions a number is wrong. You have to
identify that number.
11. 4 6 9 13.5 20 30.375
d u
1) 13.5
5) 20
n a
2) 30.375 3) 9 4) 6

12. 11
1) 11
.e e13 30 99 412
2) 30
2085
3) 99 4) 2085

ww
5) 13
13. 3 4 10 32 155 924

14.
w
1) 32
5) 4
208 214 232 262
2) 155

302 358
3) 924 4) 10

1) 358 2) 302 3) 262 4) 208

5) 232

www.eenadupratibha.net
 www.eenadupratibha.net
15. 156 170 192 226 280 364
1) 280 2) 156 3) 192 4) 226
5) 364

e t
Directions(Q.16 - 20): In each of the following questions a number series is given. After the series, a
number is given followed by (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e). You have to complete the series starting with the
number given, following the sequence of the original series and answer the questions that follow the series.
16. 3 732 1244 1587 1803 1928

. n
5 (a) (b) (c) (d)
What will come in place of (d)?
(e)

h a
1) 1009
5) None of these
2) 1105 3) 990

i b 4) 1805

17. 16 4 2 1.5 1.5 1.875

4 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
a t
What will come in place of (b)?
1) 1 2) 0.5
p r 3) 1.5 4) 8
5) None

d u
18. 3 19 99 499 2499 12499
2 (a) (b) (c)
n
(d)
a (e)

1) 74

.e e
What will come in place of (c)?
2) 14 3) 374 4) 1874

w w
5) None of these
19. 14 19 12 23 10 27

e t
w
11 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
What will come in place of (b)?
. n
1) 19
5) 24
2) 20 3) 29

h a 4) 9

20. 24 144 180 900 925 3700

17 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
i b
What will come in place of (e)?
1) 2860 2) 138
a 3) 3820t 4) 690
5) None of these

p r
number.

d u
Directions (Q.21 - 25): In each of the following questions, a number is wrong. You have to identify that

21. 7.2 32 156 776 3876 19276

1) 32
n a
2) 19276 3) 156 4) 7.2
5) 776

e e
22. 328 340 360 412 508 700

.
ww
1) 360 2) 700 3) 412 4) 328
5) 340

w
23. 12 18 45 156.5 708.75 3898.125
1) 708.75
5) 18
2) 45 3) 12 4) 156.5

24. 0.7 1.1 1.9 3.1 4.7 6.9

1) 6.9 2) 1.9 3) 3.1 4) 0.7
5) None of these

www.eenadupratibha.net
 www.eenadupratibha.net
25. 3399 1131 375 125 39 11
1) 39 2) 11 3) 375 4) 125
5) 3399
KEY

e t
1-1; 2-2; 3-4; 4-1; 5-4; 6-2; 7-4; 8-4; 9-1; 10-3; 11-5; 12-1; 13-4; 14-2; 15-5; 16-4; 17-2; 18-3; 19-4; 20-1;
21-2; 22-1; 23-4; 24-1; 25-4.
Explanations
. n
1. 2 × 0.5 = 1
1×1=1
h a
1 × 1.5 = 1.5
1.5 × 2 = 3
i b
3 × 2.5 = 7.5
72 + 2 = 51
a t
2.
82 + 2 = 66
p r
92 + 2 = 83
102 + 2 = 102
d u
112 + 2 = 123
122 + 2 = 146
n a
3.

e e
4 × 3 + 12 = 24
24 × 3 + 12 = 84

.
w w
84 × 3 + 12 = 264
264 × 3 + 12 = 804
e t
4. w
804 × 3 + 12 = 2424
24 + 12.8 = 36.8
. n
36.8 − 6.4 = 30.4
30.4 + 3.2 = 33.6
h a
33.6 − 1.6 = 32
32 + 0.8 = 32.8
i b
5. 6×3÷2=9
9 × 3 ÷ 2 = 13.5
a t
13.5 × 3 ÷ 2 = 20.25
p r
20.25 × 3 ÷ 2 = 30.375
30.375 × 3 ÷ 2 = 45.5625
d u
6. 2×2+3=7

n
7 × 2 + 5 = 19 a
e e
19 × 2 + 7 = 45
45 × 2 + 9 = 99

.
ww
99 × 2 + 11 = 209
209 × 2 + 13 = 431
7.
w
4×1=4
4 × 1.5 = 6
6 × 2 = 12
12 × 2.5 = 30
30 × 3 = 90
90 × 3.5 = 315

www.eenadupratibha.net
 www.eenadupratibha.net
8. 72 − 1, 82 − 2, 92 − 3, 102 − 4, 112 − 5, 122 − 6, 132 − 7
9. 54 − 19 = 35
35 − 17 = 18
18 − 15 = 3
3 − 13 = −10
e t
−10 − 11 = −21
− 21 − 9 = −30
. n
10. 11 × 1 + 1 = 12
12 × 1.5 + 2 = 20
h a
20 × 2 + 3 = 43
i b
43 × 2.5 + 4 = 111.5
111.5 × 3 + 5 = 339.5
a t
11.
339.5 × 3.5 + 6 = 1194.25
4 × 1.5 = 6
p r
6 × 1.5 = 9
9 × 1.5 = 13.5
d u
13.5 × 1.5 = 20.25
n a
12. e
20.25 × 1.5 = 30.375

e
12 × 1 + 1 = 13

.
w w
13 × 2 + 4 = 30
30 × 3 + 9 = 99
e t
w
99 × 4 + 16 = 412
412 × 5 + 25 = 2085
. n
13. 3×2−2=4
4×3−3=9
h a
9 × 4 − 4 = 32
32 × 5 − 5 = 155
i b
155 × 6 − 6 = 924
a t
14. 208 + 6 = 214
214 + 18 = 232
p r
232 + 30 = 262
262 + 42 = 304
d u
304 + 54 = 358

n a
15.

.e e
156 + 14 = 170
170 + 14 + 8 = 192
192 + 22 + 12 = 226

16.
ww
226 + 34 + 20 = 280

w
280 + 54 + 32 = 366
The difference between the numbers are perfect cubes
∴ required number in (d) position is 1805
17. 16 × 0.25 = 4
4 × 0.5 = 2
2 × 0.75 = 1.5

www.eenadupratibha.net
 www.eenadupratibha.net
1.5 × 1 = 1.5
1.5 × 1.25 = 1.875
Required nummber is
4 × 0.25 = 1
1 × 0.5 = 0.5
e t
18. 3 × 5 + 4 = 19
19 × 5 + 4 = 99
. n
99 × 5 + 4 = 499
499 × 5 + 4 = 2499
h a
2499 × 5 + 4 = 12499

i b
Required number is
2 × 5 + 4 = 14
a t
14 × 5 + 4 = 74
74 × 5 + 4 = 374
p r
19. 14 + 5 = 19
19 − 7 = 12
d u
12 + 11 = 23
n a
e e
23 − 13 = 10
10 + 17 = 27

.
w w
Required number is
11 + 5 = 16
e t
w
16 − 7 = 9
Short cut: Vertical difference is always constant
. n
20. 24 × 6 = 144
144 + 62 = 180
h a
180 × 5 = 900
900 + 52 = 925
i b
925 × 4 = 3700
a t
Required number is
17 × 6 = 102
p r
102 + 36 = 138
138 × 5 = 690
d u
690 + 25 = 715

n
715 × 4 = 2860
a
21.

.e e
7.2 × 5 − 4 = 32
32 × 5 − 4 = 156

ww
156 × 5 − 4 = 776
776 × 5 − 4 = 3876
w
3876 × 5 − 4 = 19376
22. 328 + 12 = 340
340 + 24 = 364
364 + 48 = 412
412 + 96 = 508

www.eenadupratibha.net
 www.eenadupratibha.net
508 + 192 = 700
23. 12 × 1.5 = 18
18 × 2.5 = 45
45 × 3.5 = 157.5
157.5 × 4.5 = 708.75
e t
24.
708.75 × 5.5 = 3898.125
0.7 + 0.4 = 1.1
. n
1.1 + 0.8 = 1.9
1.9 + 1.2 = 3.1
h a
3.1 + 1.6 = 4.7

i b
25.
4.7 + 2 = 6.7
3399 ÷ 3 − 2 = 1131
a t
1131 ÷ 3 − 2 = 375
375 ÷ 3 − 2 = 123
p r
123 ÷ 3 − 2 = 39
39 ÷ 3 − 2 = 11
d u
n a Writer: Dr. G.S. Giridhar

.e e
w w e t
w . n
h a
i b
a t
p r
d u
n a
.e e
w ww

www.eenadupratibha.net