CBSE : Class - IX Mental Ability

Number Series

INTRODUCTION
Every number series requires building in a logic sensing of following sorts of series
1. ADDITION SERIES : It is that sort of a series in which some numbers (constant, increasing or
decreasing) are being added to find next term of series
2. SUBTRACTION SERIES : It is that sort of series in which there is a constant, increasing or
decreasing difference in the consecutive terms of the series
3. MULTIPLICATION SERIES : It is that sort of series in which the consecutive term are obtained by
multiplying the previous terms or known term by constant, increasing or decreasing(series) sort of a
number
4. DIVISION SERIES : It is that sort of a series in which the consecutive terms are obtained by
dividing the previous or known terms by constant, increasing or decreasing value .
5. POWER SERIES : It is that sort of the series where the terms may be broken into a square or cube
of a series pattern
6. SPECIAL SERIES : It is series formed from special numbers which may be prime.
7. MIXED SERIES : It is mixture of two or more than two series in the same single series in which
individual series may be governed by combination series
8. COMBINATION SERIES : It is a combination of two or more than two mathematical operation
in the one given series.
NOTE: Addition and subtraction and also multiplication and division series are user specific.
Here are some illustrations for you to go ahead.
Directions : (1 to 10) Find the missing numbers :
Ex.1 16, 19, 22, 25, ?
(1) 27 (2) 28 (3) 29 (4) 25
Sol. (2) As per series a, a + d, a + 2d,.........
a = 16
d=3
a + 4d = 16 + 4 × 3

Ex.2 9, 18, 36, ?, 144

(1) 70 (2) 56 (3) 54 (4) 72
Sol. (4) As per series, a, ak, ak2, ak3, ........
a = 9, k = 2
ak3 = 9 × 23 = 72
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Ex.3 2, 6, 14, 26, ?
(1) 92 (2) 54 (3) 44 (4) 42
Sol. (4) The pattern is +4, +8, +12, +16, .......
Ex.4 240, ? , 120, 40, 10, 2
(1) 120 (2) 240 (3) 40 (4) 10
1 1 1 1
Sol. (2) The pattern is ×1, × , × , × , ×
2 3 4 5
 missing term = 240 × 1 = 240

Ex.5 8, 12, 21, 46, 95, ?

(1) 188 (2) 214 (3) 148 (4) 216
2 2 2 2
Sol. (4) The pattern is + 2 , + 3 , + 5 , + 7 , .......
missing number = 95 + 112 = 216

Ex.6 3, 9, 36, 180, ?

(1) 1080 (2) 900 (3) 720 (4) None of these
Sol. (1) Each term is multiplied by 3, 4, 5 and so on respectively. Therefore, the next term would be
180 × 6 = 1080.
(2) Multiple Series :
A multiple series is a mixture of more than one series :
Ex.7 4, 7, 3, 6, 2, 5, ?
(1) 0 (2) 1 (3) 2 (4) 3
Sol. (2) The sequence is a combination of two series
I 4, 3, 2, ?
II 7, 6, 5
The pattern followed in I is – 1, – 1, – 1
 missing number = 2 – 1 = 1

Ex.8 14, 15, 12, 16, 9, 18, 4, 21, ?

(1) 2 (2) 3 (3) – 3 (4) – 5
Sol. (3) The sequence is a combination of two series.
 14, 12, 9, 4, (....) and
 15. 16, 18, 21
The pattern followed in  is – 2, – 3, – 5, .......
 missing number = 4 – 7 = – 3

Ex.9 1, 1, 4, 8, 9, ? ,16, 64
(1) 21 (2) 27 (3) 25 (4) 28
2 3 2 3 2 3
Sol. (2) (i) 1, 4, 9, 16 [1 , 1 , 2 , 2 , 3 , 3 .............]
(ii) 1, 8, __, 64 mixed combination, Answer = 27
Ex.10 3, 6, 24, 30, 63, 72, ?, 132
(1) 58 (2) 42 (3) 90 (4) 120

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CBSE : Class - IX Mental Ability
Sol. (4) The difference between the terms is given below as :
3 6 24 30 63 72 ? 132

Difference 3 18 6 33 9 48 ?

Difference
3 15 3 15 ?

Therefore, alternate difference between the difference is 3 and 15 respectively.

Hence, the next term would be 72 + 48 = 120.
Directions : (11 to 12) Find the wrong term(s) —
Ex.11 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 23
(1) 8 (2) 12 (3) 15 (4) 18
Sol. (2)

Therefore, number 12 is wrong and should be replaced by 13.

Ex.12 1, 3, 8, 19, 42, 88, 184

(1) 3 (2) 8 (3) 19 (4) 88
Sol. (4)
1 3 8 19 42 89 184
2 5 11 23 47 95
3 6 12 24 48

Hence, number 88 is wrong and should be replaced by 89.

or 1 × 2 + 1, 3 × 2 + 2, 8 × 2 +3, 19 × 2 + 4, 42 × 2 + 5, 89 × 2 + 6
Directions : (13 to 14) In each of the following questions, a number series is given. After the series, below
it in the next line, a number is given followed by (P), (Q), (R), (S) and (T). You have to complete the series
starting with the number given following the sequence of the given series. Then answer the question given
below it.

Ex.13 12 28 64 140
37 (P) (Q) (R) (S) (T)
Which number will come in place of (T) ?
(1) 1412 (2) 164 (3) 696 (4) 78

Sol. (1)

Similarly (P) (Q) (R) (S) (T)

37 78 164 340 696 1412
×2+4 ×2+8 ×2+12 ×2+16 ×2+20
Therefore, the number 1412 will come in place of (T).

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Ex.14 2 9 57 337
3 (P) (Q) (R) (S) (T)
Which number will come in place of (Q) ?
(1) 113 (2) 17 (3) 3912 (4) 8065

Sol. (1)
Similarly,
(P) (Q) (R) (S)
3 17 113 673 3361
×8–7 ×7–6 ×6–5 ×5–4

Therefore, the number 113 will come in place of (Q).

EXERCISE

Directions : (1 to 25) Find the missing numbers :

1. 2, 8, 18, 32, ?
(1) 62 (2) 60 (3) 50 (4) 46

2. 94, 166, 258, ?, 4912

(1) 3610 (2) 1644 (3) 1026 (4) 516

3. 14, 316, 536, 764, ?

(1) 981 (2) 1048 (3) 8110 (4) 9100

4. 8, 11, 15, 22, 33, 51, ?, 127, 203

(1) 80 (2) 53 (3) 58 (4) 69

5. 2, 3, 6, 18, ?, 1944
(1) 154 (2) 180 (3) 108 (4) 452

6. 7,19, 55, 163, ?

(1) 387 (2) 329 (3) 527 (4) 487

7. 1, 2, 9, 4, 25, 6, ?
(1) 51 (2) 49 (3) 50 (4) 47

8. 16, 33, 67, 135, ?

(1) 371 (2) 175 (3) 271 (4) 287

9. 8, 24, 16, ?, 7, 14, 6, 18, 12, 5, 5, 10

(1) 14 (2) 10 (3) 7 (4) 5

10. 2, 12, 36, 80, 150, ?

(1) 194 (2) 210 (3) 252 (4) 258

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11. 101, 100, ?, 87, 71, 46
(1) 92 (2) 88 (3) 89 (4) 96

12. 100, 50, 52, 26, 28, ? 16, 8

(1) 30 (2) 36 (3) 14 (4) 32

13. 6, 24, 60, 120, 210, 336, ?, 720

(1) 496 (2) 502 (3) 504 (4) 498

14. 3, 1, 4, 5, 9, 14, 23, ?

(1) 32 (2) 37 (3) 41 (4) 28

15. 3, 6, 18, 72, 360, ?

(1) 720 (2) 1080 (3) 1600 (4) 2160

16. 78, 79, 81, ?, 92, 103, 119

(1) 88 (2) 85 (3) 84 (4) 83

17. 0, 6, 20, 42, 72, ?

(1) 106 (2) 112 (3) 110 (4) 108
18. 2, 9, 28, 65, ?
(1) 121 (2) 195 (3) 126 (4) 103
19. 1, 11, ?, 11, 11, 11, 16, 11
(1) 1 (2) 11 (3) 6 (4) 192

20. 137, 248, 359, 470, ?

(1) 582 (2) 581 (3) 571 (4) 481

21. 3, 15, 35, ?, 99, 143

(1) 63 (2) 77 (3) 69 (4) 81

22. 9, 16, 30, 58, ?

(1) 104 (2) 114 (3) 116 (4) 118

23. 3, 12, 27, 48, 75, 108, ?

(1) 192 (2) 183 (3) 162 (4) 147

24. 1, 4, 12, 30, ?

(1) 60 (2) 62 (3) 64 (4) 68

25. 16, 54, 195, ?

(1) 780 (2) 802 (3) 816 (4) 824
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Directions : (26 to 28) In each of the following questions, a number series is given. After the series, below
it in the next line, a number is given followed by (P), (Q), (R), (S) and (T). You have to complete the
series starting with the number given following the sequence of the given series. Then answer the
question given below it.

26. 2 3 8 27
5 (P) (Q) (R) (S) (T)
Which of the following numbers will come in place of (T) ?
(1) 184 (2) 6 (3) 925 (4) 45

27. 5 18 48 112
7 (P) (Q) (R) (S) (T)
Which number will come in place of (S) ?
(1) 172 (2) 276 (3) 270 (4) 376

28. 15 159 259 323

7 (P) (Q) (R) (S) (T)
Which of the following numbers will come in place of (R) ?
(1) 251 (2) 315 (3) 176 (4) 151

Directions : (29 to 35) Find the wrong term(s) —

29. 9, 11, 15, 23, 39, 70, 135

(1) 23 (2) 39 (3) 70 (4) 135
30. 3, 9, 36, 72, 216, 864, 1728, 3468
(1) 3468 (2) 1728 (3) 864 (4) 216
31. 2, 5, 11, 20, 30, 47, 65
(1) 5 (2) 20 (3) 30 (4) 47
32. 121, 143, 165, 186, 209
(1) 143 (2) 165 (3) 186 (4) 209
33. 9, 15, 24, 34, 51, 69, 90
(1) 15 (2) 24 (3) 34 (4) 51

34. 9, 13, 21, 37, 69, 132, 261

(1) 21 (2) 37 (3) 69 (4) 132

35. 105, 85, 60, 30, 0, – 45, – 90

(1) 85 (2) – 45 (3) 105 (4) 0

ANSWER KEY
Que s 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Ans. 3 1 4 1 3 4 2 3 3 3 4 3 3 2 4 2 3 3 3 2
Que s 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35
Ans. 1 2 4 4 4 3 2 2 3 1 3 3 3 4 4
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CBSE : Class - IX Mental Ability

Alphabet Series

INTRODUCTION
(1) Pattern of Alphabets Show Variation Based on :

(i) Position of the letters (ii) Difference between the alphabets

(i) Position of alphabets :

Alphabets in order :

Alphabets in reverse order :

Directions : (1 to 10) Find the missing term(s) :

Ex.1 B, E, H, ?
(1) K (2) L (3) J (4) M
Sol. (1) In the given series, every letter is moved three steps forward to obtain the corresponding letters
of the next term. So, the missing term is K.

Ex.2 Q, N, K, ?, E
(1) H (2) I (3) J (4) G
Sol. (1) In the given series, every letter is moved three steps backward to obtain the corresponding letters
of the next term. So, the missing term is H.

Ex.3 A, Y, D, W, G, U, J, ?
(1) R (2) T (3) S (4) P
Sol. (3) The given sequence consists of two series :
. A, D, G, J in which each letter is moved three steps forward to obtain the next term
. Y, W, U, ? in which each letter is moved two steps backward to obtain the next term.
So, the missing term would be S.

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Ex.4 AG, LR, WC, HN, ?
(1) SX (2) RY (3) SY (4) TX
Sol. (3) The first letter of each group and the second letter of each group differs by 11 letters between
them.
A L W H
1 12 23 8 Alphabetical
positions

11 11 11 Difference in
Alphabetical
positions
G R C N
7 18 3 14 Alphabetical
positions
Similarly, 11 11 11
Difference in
Alphabetical
positions
H S N Y
And
Therefore, the next group of letter would be SY.
11 11

Ex.5 AD, EI, JO, PV, ?

(1) VD (2) WC (3) WD (4) VE
Sol. (3) The first letter of subsequent groups have a difference of 4, 5 and 6 places respectively, whereas
the second letter of the subsequent groups has a difference of 5, 6, and 7 places respectively, Therefore,
on following the same pattern, we get ‘WD’ as the next term which would replace the question
mark.

Ex.6 AB, BA, ABD, DBA, PQRS, ?

(1) SRQP (2) SRPQ (3) SQRP (4) RSQP
Sol. (1) The first term is reversed to get second term. The third term is reversed to get the fourth term.
Similarly, to get the sixth term, we reverse the fifth term. So, the missing term would be SRQP.

Ex.7 HEJ, JGL, LIN, NKP, ?

(1) MOR (2) PNS (3) PMR (4) NPT
Sol. (3) First letter of each group differs by 2 letters. Second letter of each group differs by 2 letters.
Third letter of each group differs by 2 letters. All the letters differ in the forward direction. Hence,
the next choice would be PMR.

Ex.8 XYQ, ZAR, BCS, DET, ?

(1) GFU (2) FUG (3) FZU (4) FGU
Sol. (4) Here, first two terms of every group of letters are in continuation, like XY, ZA, BC, DE, and the
third letter of each group is again in forward continuation,
i.e. Q, R, S, T. Hence, the term replacing the question mark would be FGU.

Ex.9 17Z5, 15X4, 13V3, ?, 9R1

(1) 11S2 (2) 11T2 (3) 11U2 (4) 11T3
Sol. (2) The first number & second letter of every term is moved two steps backward & the third number
of every term is moved one step backward. So, the missing term would be 11T2.
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Ex.10 (ABC) – 6, (DEF) – 15, (GHI) – 24, ?
(1) (IJK) – 33 (2) (JKM) – 33 (3) (IJK) – 32 (4) (JKL) – 33
Sol. (4) In a given series
Let A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, D = 4, E = 5, F = 6, and so on
 A  B  C   6  D  E  F   15  G  H  I   24

1 2 3
 ,  4 5 6 , 
 7 8 9


 
So, the missing term would be  J  K  L   33
 10 11 12 

Directions : (11 to 13) Find the wrong term (s) :

Ex.11 ABD, DGK, HMS, NTB, SBL, ZKW

(1) NTB (2) DGK (3) SBL (4) ZKW
Sol. (1) First letter of first, second, third,.........terms is moved three, four, five, ........steps forward
respectively. Similarly, second letter is moved five, six, seven,......steps forward respectively and
third letter is moved seven, eight, nine,........steps forward respectively. Hence, NTB is the wrong
term and should be replaced by MTB.

Ex.12 EPV, FQW, GRX, HTY, ITZ

(1) FQW (2) GRX (3) HTY (4) ITZ
Sol. (3) In every term, first second and third letter is in alphabetical order to its next term respectively.
Fourth term is not following the same rule. Hence, HTY is the wrong term and should be replaced
by HSY.

Ex.13 D4V, G10T, J20R, M43P, P90N

(1) P90N (2) G10T (3) J20R (4) D4V
Sol. (2) First letter of every term is moved three steps forward in each next term. Second number of
every term of the pattern  × 2 + 1, × 2 + 2, × 2 + 3,............and third letter of every term is moved
two steps backward. Hence, G10T is the wrong term and should be replaced by G9T.

EXERCISE

Directions : (1 to 24) Find the missing term(s) :

1. X, U, S, P, N, K, I, ?
(1) J (2) K (3) M (4) F

2. Z, X, U, Q, L, ?
(1) F (2) K (3) G (4) E

3. A, H, N, S, W, ?
(1) A (2) Y (3) B (4) Z
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4. Q, T, V, Y, A, ?
(1) B (2) C (3) D (4) F

5. X, A, D, G, J, ?
(1) N (2) O (3) M (4) P

6. Z, L, X, J, V, H, T, F, ?, ?
(1) R, D (2) R, E (3) S, E (4) Q, D

7. AZ, YB, CX, WD, ?

(1) VE (2) UE (3) EU (4) EV

8. DFK, FEL, HDM, JCN, ?

(1) KBN (2) KBO (3) LBO (4) LBN

9. JXG, HTJ, FPN, ?, BHY

(1) EKS (2) ELS (3) DLR (4) DLS

10. CYD, FTH, IOL, LJP, ?

(1) PET (2) OET (3) OEY (4) PEV

11. ZGL, XHN, VIQ, TJU, ?

(1) RKX (2) RKY (3) RLZ (4) RKZ

12. MTH, QRK, UPN, YNQ, ?

(1) CKT (2) ELT (3) CLT (4) EKT

13. ZSD, YTC, XUB, WVA, ?

(1) VZZ (2) ZVX (3) VWZ (4) VZX

14. RML, VIJ, ZFH, DDF, ?

(1) HDC (2) CHI (3) HCD (4) DIC

15. LRX, DJP, VBH, NTZ, ?

(1) ELS (2) FMR (3) GKS (4) FLR

16. MAD, OBE, SCH, YDM, ?

(1) HET (2) HES (3) GET (4) UAE

17. 2B, 4C, 8E, 14H, ?

(1) 22L (2) 24L (3) 22K (4) 2M

18. 1 BR, 2 EO, 6 HL, 15 KI, ?

(1) 22 NF (2) 31 NF (3) 31 NE (4) 28 NF

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19. P3C, R5F, T8I, V12L, ?
(1) Y17O (2) X17M (3) X17O (4) X16O

20. Z 15 A, W 13 C, ?, Q 9 G, N 7 I
(1) T 12 E (2) R 11F (3) T 11E (4) R 13 D

21. B3M, E7J, H15G, K31D, ?

(1) N65A (2) O63A (3) N63A (4) N63Z

22. 5X9, 8U12, 11R15, 14O18, ?

(1) 17L21 (2) 17K21 (3) 17M21 (4) 17L23

23. 6C7, 8F10, 11J14, 15O19, ?

(1) 19U24 (2) 20U25 (3) 19U25 (4) 20U24

24. B2E, D5H, F12K, H27N, ?

(1) J58Q (2) J56Q (3) J57Q (4) J56P

Directions : (25 to 30) Find the wrong term(s) :

25. ECA, JHF, OMK, TQP, YWU

(1) ECA (2) JHF (3) TQP (4) YWU

26. DKY, FJW, HIT, JHS, LGQ

(1) FJW (2) LGQ (3) JHJ (4) HIT

27. DVG, FSI, HPK, JNM, LJO

(1) DVG (2) JNM (3) HPK (4) LJO

28. CDF, DEG, EFH, FHI

(1) CDF (2) DEG (3) FHI (4) EFH

29. ZLA, BMY, CNW, FOU, HPS

(1) ZLA (2) BMY (3) FOU (4) CNW

30. G4T, J10R, M20P, P43N, S90L

(1) G4T (2) J10R (3) M20P (4) P43N

ANSWER KEY
Que s 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Ans. 4 1 4 3 3 1 4 3 4 2 4 3 3 3 4 3 1 2 3 3
Que s 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Ans. 3 1 2 1 3 4 2 3 4 2

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