3.

Number Odd Man

Odd means different from others. Let us consider some examples to understand the concept of odd man.
1. 1 4 9 16 25 36 63 81
On observing the terms of the above number series carefully, we notice that all the terms except 63 are
perfect squares of natural numbers. 63 is not a square of natural number. Hence, 63 is the odd man.

2. 3 6 9 12 92 114 222
In this example all terms except 92 are multiples of 3, but 92 is not a multiple of 3. Hence, 92 is the
odd man.

3. 2 3 5 7 9 11 13
In the above number series all the terms except 9 are prime numbers. Hence, 9 is the odd man. In the
same example we can also argue that all the terms except 2 are odd numbers and 2 is the odd man. So,
some of the problems on “Number odd man” may have multiple answers. In such cases, depending on
the given options, appropriate answer is to be selected.

4. 235 354 424 541 613

This problem is somewhat tricky. Sum of digits of each term except 354 is 10. Sum of digits of 354 is
3 + 5 + 4 = 12. Hence, 354 is the odd man.

In problems relating to ‘Number odd man’, a number series is given. All the terms in the series except
one term follow a particular pattern or rule. Only one term does not follow the pattern. In other words,
one of the terms in the given series is wrong. We are required to identify the wrong term. If we replace
this wrong term by an appropriate right number, the pattern should hold throughout the series.
The concept is very much similar to the one learnt in ‘number series’. In number series we are required
to find the missing term, where as in ‘number odd man’ we are required to identify the wrong term
which does not follow the pattern. In both the cases our main work is to observe the terms of the given
number series carefully and to identify the pattern followed therein.
In some problems on ‘Number odd man’, numbers are not given in the form of a number series. Five
numbers (or pair of numbers) are given. All the numbers except one are alike in a certain way. We are
required to find the number (or pair of numbers) which is different from others. In such problems options
are not normally given. Let us discuss two such examples to understand the concept correctly.

Example 1
Identify the odd man out of the following five numbers
(1) 385 (2) 572 (3) 671 (4) 264 (5) 427
On careful observation of the above five numbers, we notice that in all the numbers except 427, the middle
digit is the sum of the first and the last digits. In 427, this pattern is not followed. Hence 427 is an odd man.

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Example 2
Identify the odd pair out of the following five pairs of numbers
(1) 6, 37 (2) 7, 50 (3) 8, 65 (4) 10, 99 (5) 11, 122
We observe that in all the pairs except the fourth pair, second number is 1 more than the square of the first
number. However, in pair 4, second number is 1 less than square of the first number. Hence, pair (4) is the
odd pair.

Worked Examples
Type - I
One of the terms in the following number series is wrong. Identify the wrong term (odd man)
1. 3 7 16 33 74 153 312
(1) 7 (2) 33 (3) 74 (4) 153 (5) 312
Analysis:
First, we shall identify the pattern followed by the terms of the above number series.
3×2+1=7
7 × 2 + 2 = 16
16 × 2 + 3 = 35 ≠ 33
35 × 2 + 4 = 74
74 × 2 + 5 = 153
153 × 2 + 6 = 312
So, 33 is the wrong number in the series.
Answer (2)

2. 20 24 40 76 150 240
(1) 20 (2) 40 (3) 76 (4) 150 (5) 240
Analysis:
20 + 22 = 20 + 4 = 24
24 + 42 = 24 + 16 = 40
40 + 62 = 40 + 36 = 76
76 + 82 = 76 + 64 = 140 ≠ 150
140 + 102 = 140 + 100 = 240
Answer (4)

3. 3 15 25 100 110 324 330 660 664

(1) 15 (2) 100 (3) 110 (4) 330 (5) 660
Analysis:
3 × 5 = 15
15 + 10 = 25
25 × 4 = 100
100 + 8 = 108 ≠ 110
108 × 3 = 324
324 + 6 = 330
330 × 2 = 660
660 + 4 = 664
Answer (3)

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4. 26 34 41 46 56 68 80 88
(1) 26 (2) 41 (3) 56 (4) 68 (5) 88
Analysis:
On carefully observing each term of the series we notice that the sum of digits of a term is added to the
same term to get the next term
26 + (2 + 6) = 34
34 + (3 + 4) = 41
41 + (4 + 1) = 46
46 + (4 + 6) = 56
56 + (5 + 6) = 67 ≠ 68
67 + (6 + 7) = 80
80 + (8 + 0) = 88
Answer (4)

5. 16 22 26 38 62 74 100
(1) 16 (2) 26 (3) 62 (4) 74 (5) 100
Analysis:
In this example, product of digits of a term is added to the same term to get the next term.
16 + (1 × 6) = 16 + 6 = 22
22 + (2 × 2) = 22 + 4 = 26
26 + (2 × 6) = 26 + 12 = 38
38 + (3 × 8) = 38 + 24 = 62
62 + (6 × 2) = 62 + 12 = 74
74 + (7 × 4) = 74 + 28 = 102 ≠ 100
Answer (5)

6. 6 13 24 51 98 201 408
(1) 6 (2) 13 (3) 51 (4) 201 (5) 408
Analysis:
6 × 2 + 1 = 13
13 × 2 − 2 = 24
24 × 2 + 3 = 51
51 × 2 − 4 = 98
98 × 2 + 5 = 201
201 × 2 − 6 = 396 ≠ 408
Answer (5)

7. 696 340 168 80 36 14 3

(1) 168 (2) 36 (3) 696 (4) 340 (5) 696
Analysis:
Observe the difference between the consecutive terms.
In this illustration, let us analyse the pattern from the right end of the series

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3 + 11 = 14
14 + 22 = 36
36 + 44 = 80
80 + 88 = 168
168 + 176 = 344 ≠ 340
344 + 352 = 696
Answer (4)
Alternate method:
3 × 2 + 8 = 14
14 × 2 + 8 = 36
36 × 2 + 8 = 80
80 × 2 + 8 = 168
168 × 2 + 8 = 344 ≠ 340
344 × 2 + 8 = 696
So, 340 in the wrong term

8. 2 3 4 6 12 12 48 24 250
(1) 4 (2) 6 (3) 48 (4) 24 (5) 250
Analysis:
In this example, two series are combined together.
First consider the terms only at odd positions and find out the pattern.
2 4 12 48 250
2×2=4
4 × 3 = 12
12 × 4 = 48
48 × 5 = 240 ≠ 250
Now, consider terms at even positions and find the pattern.
3 6 12 24
3×2=6
6 × 2 = 12
12 × 2 = 24
All the terms follow the same pattern.
So, 250 is the wrong term.
Answer (5)

9. 3 11 31 68 131 223
(1) 131 (2) 68 (3) 223 (4) 31 (5) 11
Analysis:
13 + 2 = 3
23 + 3 = 11
33 + 4 = 31
43 + 5 = 69 ≠ 68

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53 + 6 = 131
63 + 7 = 223
Answer (2)

10. 1112 1314 1516 1718 1921 2122 2324

(1) 1112 (2) 1516 (3) 1921 (4) 2122 (5) 2324
Analysis:
Two consecutive two digit numbers are written side by side, in each of the terms except in 1921. Hence,
1921 is the wrong term.
Answer (3)

Type - II
In the following examples five numbers are given, out of which four are alike in certain way. Identify
the number which is different from others.
11. (1) 49 (2) 67 (3) 139 (4) 176 (5) 229
Analysis:
Sum of digits is 13 in all the numbers except in 176.
Hence 176 is the odd man.
Answer (4)

12. (1) 166 (2) 239 (3) 326 (4) 433 (5) 941
Analysis:
Product of digits is 36 in all the cases except in 239. In 239 the product of digits is 54.
Hence 239 is the odd man.
Answer (2)

13. (1) 199 (2) 248 (3) 326 (4) 414 (5) 527
Analysis:
In all the numbers except in 527, the third digit (i.e., digit in unit place) is the product of remaining two
digits. Hence 527 is the odd man.
Answer (5)

14. (1) 6 (2) 10 (3) 14 (4) 18 (5) 22

Analysis:
When we divide each number by 2, we get a prime quotient, except in case of 18. When 18 is divided by
2, we get the quotient 9, which is not a prime number. In fact, 9 is a perfect square. Hence, 18 is the odd
man.
Answer (4)

15. (1) 37 (2) 50 (3) 65 (4) 82 (5) 99

Analysis:
Each number except 99, is one more than the perfect square. 99 is one less than a perfect square.
Hence, 99 is the odd man.
Answer (5)

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Type - III
In the following examples five pairs of numbers are given. Out of these four pairs are alike in certain way.
Identify the pair which is different from others.
16. (1) 2, 90 (2) 89, 12 (3) 72, 56 (4) 30, 20 (5) 6, 110
Analysis:
Observe the pair of numbers in (1), (3), (4) and (5). Both the numbers in these pairs are of the form
n2 + n, where n is a natural number. In pair (2) only one number 12 follow this pattern (12 = 32 + 3), but
89 does not follow this pattern.
Answer (2)

17. (1) 2, 8 (2) 1010, 720 (3) 10, 24 (4) 68, 120 (5) 350, 504
Analysis:
First number of each pair is of the form n3 + n. The second number of each pair except pair (1), is of the
form n3 − n. hence pair (1) is an odd man.
Answer (1)

18. (1) 334, 36 (2) 433, 36 (3) 822, 36 (4) 632, 36 (5) 914, 36
Analysis:
Product of digits of first number is equal to the second number, in each of pairs except in pair (3). Pair
(3) does not follow this pattern.
Answer (3)

19. (1) 273, 12 (2) 329, 14 (3) 457, 16 (4) 567, 18 (5) 679, 20
Analysis:
Sum of digits of first number is the second number, in all the pairs except in pair 5. In pair (5) sum of
digits of first number is 22, whereas the second number is 20.
Answer (5)

20. (1) 7, 743 (2) 6, 612 (3) 5, 521 (4) 4, 46 (5) 3, 72

Analysis:
Consider first number of each pair. Find the cube of the said number. Write the digits of this cube in the
reverse order. We get the second number in all the pairs except in pair (1).
Answer (1)

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Exercises
One of the terms in the series is wrong. Identify the wrong term (Odd man) from the given options.

1. 3 2 8 9 13 22 18 32 23 42
(1) 9 (2) 13 (3) 22 (4) 32 (5) 42

2. 325 259 202 160 127 105 94

(1) 127 (2) 160 (3) 259 (4) 105 (5) 202

3. 81 64 27 16 9 4 3 2 1
(1) 3 (2) 4 (3) 27 (4) 2 (5) 9

4. 2 3 11 48 102 227
(1) 48 (2) 227 (3) 3 (4) 11 (5) 102

5. 14 32 72 156 328 680 1376

(1) 328 (2) 156 (3) 680 (4) 32 (5) 72

6. 4 6 18 90 486 3645 32805

(1) 90 (2) 3645 (3) 6 (4) 18 (5) 486

7. 479 310 431 350 301 374 383

(1) 431 (2) 301 (3) 310 (4) 350 (5) 374

8. 9 8 14 36 152 755 4524

(1) 14 (2) 152 (3) 8 (4) 755 (5) 36

9. 7 14 56 168 336 1344 2668 8064

(1) 56 (2) 336 (3) 2668 (4) 1344 (5) 168

10. 31 59 131 209 336 503

(1) 131 (2) 336 (3) 503 (4) 209 (5) 131

11. 11 24 67 122 218 340 515

(1) 24 (2) 340 (3) 67 (4) 515 (5) 218

12. 1 5 9 17 25 35 49 65
(1) 35 (2) 9 (3) 49 (4) 65 (5) 25

13. 7 17 31 49 71 96 127
(1) 49 (2) 71 (3) 127 (4) 17 (5) 96

14. 3 18 43 78 123 178 243 328

(1) 328 (2) 78 (3) 178 (4) 18 (5) 123

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15. 2 10 30 68 134 222 350

(1) 30 (2) 134 (3) 222 (4) 68 (5) 30

16. 35 39 48 69 89 125
(1) 48 (2) 89 (3) 125 (4) 69 (5) 39

17. 625 343 125 49 25 7 5 1 0

(1) 7 (2) 5 (3) 1 (4) 0 (5) 25

18. 728 691 656 623 592 565

(1) 656 (2) 623 (3) 565 (4) 592 (5) 728

19. 7 9 16 25 40 66 107
(1) 16 (2) 40 (3) 66 (4) 25 (5) 7

20. 4 3 4 9 32 155 936

(1) 4 (2) 32 (3) 3 (4) 155 (5) 936

21. 14604 2420 480 108 28 8 4

(1) 2420 (2) 28 (3) 108 (4) 8 (5) 480

22. 445 221 109 46 25 11 4

(1) 109 (2) 11 (3) 221 (4) 46 (5) 25

23. 3 5 10 12 24 26 48 54
(1) 10 (2) 24 (3) 48 (4) 26 (5) 5

24. 16 81 196 361 529 841

(1) 196 (2) 841 (3) 529 (4) 81 (5) 361

25. 11 13 17 25 32 38 47 58
(1) 38 (2) 17 (3) 47 (4) 25 (5) 58

26. 1 1 2 4 4 7 7 11
(1) 11 (2) 4 (3) 7 (4) 1 (5) 2

27. 4 18 48 110 180 294 448

(1) 48 (2) 180 (3) 18 (4) 110 (5) 448

28. 2 30 6 20 12 12 15 6
(1) 15 (2) 12 (3) 6 (4) 20 (5) 30

29. 1440 240 48 12 4 1

(1) 48 (2) 4 (3) 1 (4) 240 (5) 12

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30. 356 172 80 34 10

(1) 80 (2) 10 (3) 34 (4) 356 (5) 172

31. 1 2 10 37 101 225 442

(1) 2 (2) 10 (3) 37 (4) 101 (5) 225

32. 92 74 46 36 18 10
(1) 46 (2) 18 (3) 74 (4) 36 (5) 10

33. 67 84 95 114 123 140

(1) 95 (2) 123 (3) 84 (4) 114 (5) 140

34. 5 3 6 8 13 20 32 51 82
(1) 5 (2) 32 (3) 51 (4) 82 (5) 13

35. 720 120 24 8 2 1 1

(1) 24 (2) 2 (3) 120 (4) 8 (5) 720

In each of the following questions, five numbers are given. Out of these, four are alike in a certain way
and one is different. Identify the number which is different from others.

36. (1) 17 (2) 27 (3) 29 (4) 37 (5) 59

37. (1) 15 (2) 21 (3) 24 (4) 28 (5) 30

38. (1) 51 (2) 144 (3) 64 (4) 121 (5) 256

39. (1) 27 (2) 125 (3) 343 (4) 729 (5) 1321

40. (1) 145 (2) 197 (3) 257 (4) 325 (5) 399

41. (1) 324 (2) 244 (3) 136 (4) 352 (5) 514

42. (1) 5698 (2) 7894 (3) 9865 (4) 8793 (5) 6958

43. (1) 525 (2) 636 (3) 749 (4) 864 (5) 982

44. (1) 325 (2) 236 (3) 178 (4) 639 (5) 538

45. (1) 13 (2) 17 (3) 23 (4) 37 (5) 73

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46. (1) 263 (2) 111 (3) 242 (4) 551 (5) 682

47. (1) 61 (2) 52 (3) 63 (4) 74 (5) 46

48. (1) 121 (2) 137 (3) 153 (4) 177 (5) 183

49. (1) 521 (2) 612 (3) 234 (4) 215 (5) 927

50. (1) 127 (2) 235 (3) 316 (4) 451 (5) 542

In each of the following questions, five pairs of numbers are given. Out of these, four pairs are alike in
a certain way and one pair is different. Identify the pair which is different from the others.

51. (1) 22, 3 (2) 28, 4 (3) 36, 5 (4) 43, 6 (5) 50, 7

52. (1) 975, 579 (2) 352, 235 (3) 483, 348 (4) 739, 379 (5) 827, 728

53. (1) 16, 64 (2) 36, 216 (3) 49, 346 (4) 64, 512 (5) 81, 729

54. (1) 2, 4 (2) 4, 8 (3) 6, 18 (4) 8, 32 (5) 10, 50

55. (1) 36, 18 (2) 48, 32 (3) 67, 42 (4) 78, 62 (5) 89, 72

56. (1) 348, 15 (2) 456, 15 (3) 564, 15 (4) 682, 15 (5) 780, 15

57. (1) 38, 24 (2) 47, 28 (3) 56, 32 (4) 69, 54 (5) 76, 42

58. (1) 203, 5 (2) 421, 7, (3) 342, 9 (4) 542, 11 (5) 742, 13

59. (1) 14, 9 (2) 15, 8 (3) 21, 6 (4) 42, 3 (5) 18, 7

60. (1) 23, 57 (2) 1113, 1719 (3) 2329, 3137 (4) 4143, 4753 (5) 5963, 6771

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