hamburger

How to Solve Number Series Quickly? Check Tips & Tricks Here

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: September 25th, 2023

How to Solve Number Series Quickly: Number Series is an important topic that is asked in banking exams. Number series were formerly asked in the form of a missing number. However, after reviewing some recent exams, it has been discovered that the most current pattern of number series questions is wrong number series type questions. This latest pattern is nothing but an advanced pattern of missing numbers. If you know the basics of the number series, then it will be easier for you. In IBPS PO, SO, SBI Clerk, SBI SO exams the questions on Wrong Number Series are very frequent. In this article, we will discuss this latest pattern along with wrong numbers series questions.

Number Series Concepts

YOU MUST LEARN SQUARES OF NUMBERS UP TO 40 AND CUBES OF NUMBERS UP TO 20.
Note: In the wrong number series, the pattern of the series will always be wrong immediately before and after the wrong number.

There are uncountable numbers of series because the series is an imagination. Some of the important series patterns are discussed below:

1. Based on addition and subtraction.
4,9,14,18,24,29
the difference between the two successive numbers is 5 but the difference between 18 and 14 is 4, the difference between 24 and 18 is 6. So, the wrong number is 18. The correct answer is 19.

2. Based on multiplication and division.
18,28,40.5,60.75,91.125,136.6875
Solution: The problem with this type of series is how to identify these types of series. Check the difference between successive numbers.
—-10—-12.5—-20.25—-30.375—-45.5625
we can see that the difference is half of the previous number. 10 is not the half of 18 and 12.5 is not the half of 28. So, 28 is wrong and the correct number is 27.

3. Based on the square and cube.
8 27 125 512 1331 2197
Solution: 23=8, 33=27, 53=125, 83=512,113=1331,133=2197
In this, all are cubes of numbers 2,3,5,8,11,13. These numbers are prime numbers except 8 and from 2 to 11, 7 is also a prime number that is missing. In place of 83, there should be 73 i.e. 343

4. Based on the mixed pattern.
6,11,21,40,81,161
This series could have followed two patterns.
Pattern 1: The difference is –5—10—-19—–41—80. Successive difference is2 times of the previous one. But 19 and 41 are not following the pattern. We can guess that something is wrong in this term if we want 20 and 40, we have to replace 40 with 41. Hence 40 is wrong.
Pattern 2: 6
6×2-1 = 11
11×2-1 = 21
21×2 -1 = 41
41×2 – 1 = 81
81×2 -1 = 161 Hence, 40 is wrong
If you go through various types of a pattern of wrong number series and have practiced them. You will not have any problem solving the series. Now, we will discuss the previous year’s questions based on the number series.

Example 1: 12 12 18 45 180 1080 12285
In this series also there can be two patterns.

Pattern 1

 Pattern 2

12×1 = 12
12x(1.5) = 18
18x(1.5 +1) = 45
45x(2.5+1.5) = 180
180x(4+2.5)= 1170
1170x(6.5+4) = 12285 

12x(1+0) = 12

12x(1+.5) = 18

18x(1.5+1) = 45

45x (2.5+1.5) = 180
180x(4+2) = 1080

1080x(6+2.5) = 9180

So, If it follows pattern1, the wrong number in the series is 1080 and if it follows pattern2, the wrong number in the series is 12285. It depends on the options given in exams.

Example 2: 7 5 7 17 63 ? 
Answer: 309
7×1 – 2 = 5
5×2 – 3 = 7
7×3 – 4 = 17
17×4 – 5 = 63
63×5 – 6 = 309

Example 3: 50…… 61 89 154 280 (SBI PO Prelims 2016)
Answer : 52
50+(13+1) = 52
52+(23+1) = 61
61+(33+1) = 89
89+(43+1) = 154
154+(53+1) = 280

Example 4: 17, 19, 25, 37, ……,87 (SBI PO Prelims 2016)
Answer: 57
17 + 1 x 2 = 19
19 + 2 x 3 = 25
25 + 3 x 4 = 37
37 + 4 x 5 = 57
57 + 5 x 6 = 87

Example 5: 11, 14, 19, 28, 43, ? (SBI PO Prelims 2016)
Answer: 66
3…5…9…15…23 
2…4….6…….8
Answer 43+23= 66

Example 6: 26 144 590 1164 ? (SBI PO Prelims 2016)
Answer: 1182
26 x 6 – 12 = 144
144 x 4 + 14 = 590 
590 x 2 – 16 = 1164
1164 x 1 + 18 = 1182 

Example 7: 6 48 8 70 9 63 7 Find the wrong number?
Answer: 9×7=63, 9×8=72,8×6=48
So, 70 is wrong in this series

Example 8: 1,4,11,34,102,304,911
Answer: 102
Pattern of Series is
1
1×3+1 = 4
4×3-1 = 11
11×3+1 = 34
34×3-1 = 101
101×3+1 = 304
304×3-1 = 911

Example 9: 1,2,12,146,2880,86400,3628800
Answer: 146
1
1x1x2=2
2x2x3=12
12x3x4=144
144x4x5=2880
2880x5x6=86400
86400x6x7= 3628800

Example 10: 0,6,23,56,108,184,279
Answer: 108
13-20 = 1-1 =0
23-2= 8-2 =6
33-2= 27-4 = 23
43-23= 64-8 = 56
53-24= 125-16 = 109
63-25= 216-32 = 184
73-26= 343-64 =279

Example 11: 813,724,635,546,457,564,279
Answer : 564
Hundred place digit is decreasing by 1, tens place is increasing by 1, and unit place digit is also increasing by 1. But this pattern is not followed in 564. 368 should be there in place of 564.

Example 12: 0,4,19,48,100,180,294
Answer: 19
13-12=0
23-2= 4
33-3= 18
43-42= 48
53-52=100
63-62= 180
73-72=294

Example 13: 3.2, 4.8, 2.4, 3.6, 1.6, 2.7
Answer : 1.6
3.2 x 1.5 = 4.8
4.8 ÷ 2 = 2.4
2.4 × 1.5 = 3.6
3.6 ÷ 2 = 1.8
1.8 x 1.5 = 2.4

Example 14: 2, 9,24,55,117,245
Answer : 117
2×2+5 = 9
9×2+6 = 24
24×2+7 = 55
55×2+8 = 118
118×2+9 = 245

Example 15: 109,131,209,271,341,419
Answer: 131
112-12 = 109
132-14 = 155
152-16 = 209
172-18 = 271
192-20 = 341
212-22 = 419

Example 16: 6, 7,27, 115,513,3069
Answer : 115
6×2-5 = 7
7×3+6 = 27
27×4-7 = 101
101×5+8 = 513
513×6-9 = 3069

Some steps which may be helpful to solve number series.

Step 1: Check the difference
Step 2: If step 1 does not work, then check the difference of difference. If it also does not work, try to find is there any multiplication or division relationship between numbers?
Step 3: If a difference is sharply increasing or decreasing, then you can guess that it may be due to the multiplication or division pattern of series.
Step 4: If there is more irregularity indifference, then it may be the combination of the above-discussed steps.
Step 5: If none of the steps works, then try to use the elimination method, which may help you in eliminating 2 to 3 options

If you are aiming to crack IBPS RRB 2023 Exams, then join the Online Classroom Program where you will get:

  • Live Courses by Top Faculty
  • Daily Study Plan 
  • Comprehensive Study Material 
  • Latest Pattern Test Series 
  • Complete Doubt Resolution 
  • Regular Assessments with Report Card

Click here to access IBPS RRB Exam Test Series

Why BYJU’S Exam Prep Test Series?

  • Get better at every level of your preparation with unlimited test series, based on the latest exam pattern. 
  • Assess areas of weaknesses & track improvements with in-depth performance analysis

Download the BYJU’S Exam Prep App Now. 

The most comprehensive exam prep app.

#DreamStriveSucceed

SBI PO

Our Apps Playstore
POPULAR EXAMS
SSC and Bank
Other Exams
GradeStack Learning Pvt. Ltd.Windsor IT Park, Tower - A, 2nd Floor, Sector 125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201303 help@byjusexamprep.com
Home Practice Test Series Premium