Part A : Verbal Reasoning

Chapter

1 Number Series
Completion

Section Level No. of Questions

Concept Applicator Very Easy 20
Concept Builder Easy 20
Concept Cracker Moderate 30
Concept Deviator Difficult 25

THEORY

In this chapter we will discuss all the questions based on number series. In this type of questions candidate have to
follow a definite pattern throughout the series. The task for the candidate is to follow the pattern and to complete the
given series with the best alternative or to find the wrong term in the series.

DIFFERENT PATTERNS OF NUMBER SERIES

Pattern 1: When the difference between the consecutive numbers is same/ constant or the number series is in arithmetic
progression.
a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d, a + 4d, ........, a + (n – 1)d. Where a is first term, d is the common difference
Ex 1: 24, 21, 18, ?, 12, 9.
Where the difference is -3, answer is 15
Pattern 2: Any constant number is added to the difference of the consecutive numbers and form a series.
Ex 2: 2, 4, 8, 14, 22, 30
2 4 8 14 22 32
Next No. is 32 as
2 (2+2) (4+2) (6+2) (8+2)
3 4 6 9 13 18 24
Ex 3: 3, 4, 6, 9, 13, 18, __, Answer is 24 because
Pattern 3: Multiplication or division Pattern 1 2 3 4 5 6

When a series is multiplied or divide by certain constant.

Ex 4: 6174, 882, 126, ?. Answer is 18, the series is divisible by 7.
Ex 5: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18, ?, 54
(a) 18 (b) 27 (c) 36
(d) 81 (e) None of these
 EBD_9063
2 Number Series Completion
Solution: The given series is in the pattern × 2, × 3/2, × 2, × 3/2, ×2,.....
1 2 3 6 9 18 ? 54
So, the missing term is 18 × 3/2 = 27 Or +1 +1 +3 +3 +9 +9 +27
1 1×3 3×3 9×3
Ans: (b) 27
Pattern 4: When a series follows the following pattern add, multiply, add, multiply, add,.... or add, substract, add,
substract, add,.... etc.
Ex 6: 4, 6, 12, 14, 28, 30, .....
4 6 12 14 28 30 60
Solution:
+2 ×2 +2 ×2 +2 ×2
60 is the next number
Ex 7: 8, 28, 116, 584, ? (R.R.B 2002)
(a) 1752 (b) 3502 (c) 3504
(d) 3508 (e) None of these
Solution: The given series is in the pattern: × 3 + 4, × 4 + 4, × 5 + 4, .....
(8 × 3) + 4 = 28
(28 × 4) + 4 = 116
(116 × 5) + 4 = 584
(584 × 6) + 4 = 3508
So, the missing term is 584 × 6 + 4 = 3508.
Ans: Option (d)
Ex 8: 3 4 10 33 136 685 ?
(a) 3430 (b) 4802 (c) 5145
(d) 4116 (e) 5488
Solution: In this particular Series, the pattern is-
3 × 1 + 1 = 4; 4 × 2 + 2 = 10; 10 × 3 + 3 = 33; 33 × 4 + 4 = 136; 136 × 5 + 5 = 685; 685 × 6 + 6 = 4116.
Hence option (d)
Pattern 5: Series with Square or cube or square root or cube root of the number.
Ex 9: 1, 9, 25, 49, ?, 121 (S.S.C.)
(a) 64 (b) 81 (c) 91
(d) 100 (e) None of these
Solution: The given series consists of squares of consecutive odd numbers i.e 12, 32, 52, 72,.....
So, the missing term = 92 = 81
Ans: Option (b)
Pattern 6: TRIANGULAR NUMBER
When any number series is in the form a, a + (a +1), a+ (a+1)+ (a+2), a + (a+1)+ (a+2) + (a+3), ........., nth term
 n ( n + 1)   15 (15 + 1) 
of the series be   .=  
 2   2 

Ex 10: 1, 3, 6, 4, 15, 21, ...... find the 15th term of the series?
 n ( n + 1)   15 (15 + 1) 
Solution : 15th term =  =  = 120 where n = 15.
 2   2 
Number Series Completion 3
Pattern 7: Product of the digits and summation with any constant, gives next number of the series.
Ex 11: 69, 55, 26, 13, 5 [Find the Wrong term of the Series]
(a) 69 (b) 55 (c) 26
(d) 13 (e) 5
Solution: We found that the series contains each term is one more than the product of the digits of the preceding term.
Thus (6 × 9 ) + 1 = 55, (5 × 5) + 1 = 26, (2 × 6 ) + 1 = 13, (1 × 3) + 1 = 4. Hence option (e).
Pattern 8: Difference Between the adjacent numbers increases by a constant number.
Ex 12: 2, 7, 17, 32, ..?…….
(a) 42 (b) 52 (c) 47
(d) 27 (e) 62
Solution: In this particular series the gap between the numbers are 5, 10, 15, ...so the next difference must be 20.
Than the next number be 52. Hence option (b)
Pattern 9: Percentage increasing and decreasing pattern
Ex 13: 105, 94.5, 103.95, 93.56, ..?...
(a) 102.91 (b) 102.98 (c) 102.95
(d) 103. 91 (e) none of these
Solution: In this particular Series the numbers are arranged on percentage increase and decrease pattern. As first there
is 10% decrease and than 10% increase..i.e 105 – 10% of 105 = 94.5, 94.5 + 10% of 94.5 = 103.95 ..and so on.
Hence option (a) 102.91 is the very next number of the series.
Pattern 10: Division or Multiplication with increasing and decreasing numbers.
Ex 14: 51975, 9450, 2100, 600, 240, 160 ?
(a) 80 (b) 120 (c) 320
(d) 240 (e) 300

Solution: The pattern is

? = 160 0.5 = 320. Hence Option (c)

Ex 15: 16, 12, 18, 40.5, 121.5, 455.625 ?
(a) 2050.1125 (b) 2050.2125 (c) 2050.3125
(d) 2050.4125 (e) 2050.5125
Solution: The pattern of the above Series:
16 × 0.75 = 12, 12 × 1.5 (i.e 0.75 + 0.75 = 1.5) = 18, 18 × 2.25 (i.e 1.5 + 0.75 = 2.25) = 40.5, 40.5 × 3 (i.e 2.25
+ 0.75) = 121.5, ......, 455.625 × 4.50 = 2050.3125. Option (c)
Ex 16: 4,18, 48, 100, 180, 294 ?
(a) 448 (b) 424 (c) 436
(d) 460 (e) 412
Solution: The pattern is, here 3rd order difference is constant.

? = 294 + 154 = 448

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4 Number Series Completion

1. Concept Applicator
Directions (Qs. 1-5): What should come in place of 11. 2187, 729, 243, 81, 27, 9, ?
question mark (?) in the following number series? (a) 36 (b) 3
1. 1, 5, 13, 25, 41, ? (c) 18 (d) 6
(a) 51 (b) 57
(e) 12
(c) 61 (d) 63
12. 6, 26, 134, 666, 3334, 16666, ?
(e) None of these
2. 1, 1, 2, 6, 24, ?, 720 (a) 84344 (b) 83443
(a) 100 (b) 104 (c) 84434 (d) 83334
(c) 108 (d) 120 (e) 83344
(e) None of these 13. 4, 18, 48, 100, 180, 294, ?
3. 6, 13, 28, 59, ? (a) 416 (b) 480
(a) 111 (b) 113 (c) 512 (d) 384
(c) 114 (d) 122 (e) 448
(e) None of these
14. 20, 24, 33, 49, 74, 110 ?
4. 3, 15, ?, 63, 99, 143 (S.S.C.)
(a) 133 (b) 147
(a) 27 (b) 35
(c) 45 (d) 56 (c) 159 (d) 163
(e) None of these (e) 171
5. 5760, 960, ?, 48, 16, 8 (S.S.C) 15. 529, 841, 961, 1369, 1681, 1849, ?
(a) 120 (b) 160 (a) 2809 (b) 2601
(c) 192 (d) 240 (c) 3249 (d) 3481
(e) None of these (e) 2209
Directions (Qs. 6-10): What should come in place 16. 16, 24, 48, 120, 360, 1260, ?
of question mark (?) in the following number
(a) 3780 (b) 4725
series?
6. 81, 512, 2401, 7776, 15625, 16384, ? (c) 5355 (d) 5040
(a) 2187 (b) 19683 (e) 4410
(c) 729 (d) 512 17. 8, 31, 122, 485, 1936, 7739, ?
(e) 6561 (a) 30950 (b) 46430
7. 8, 64, 216, 512, 1000, 1728, ? (c) 34650 (d) 42850
(a) 4096 (b) 2744 (e) 38540
(c) 3375 (d) 2197 18. 499, 622, 868, 1237, 1729, 2344, ?
(e) 4913
(a) 3205 (b) 3082
8. 72, 63, 54, 45, …?…….
(c) 2959 (d) 3462
(a) 36 (b) 81
(c) 27 (d) 90 (e) 2876
(e) 18 19. 231, 342, 453, 564, ….?...
9. 3, 7, 14, 24, …?… (a) 576 (b) 475
(a) 34 (b) 28 (c) 675 (d) 567
(c) 38 (d) 40 (e) 676
(e) 37 20. 796, 675, 554, 433, …? …
10. 12, 15, 19, 24, ? (a) 512 (b) 231
(a) 28 (b) 27
(c) 213 (d) 312
(c) 30 (d) 32
(e) 321
(e) 34
Number Series Completion 5

2. Concept Builder
Directions (Qs. 1-5): In the following number 9. 66, 91, 120, 153, 190, 233, 276
series only one number is wrong. Find out the (a) 120 (b) 233
wrong number. [BANK OF INDIA PO] (c) 153 (d) 276
1. 529, 841, 961, 1296, 1681, 1849, 2209 (e) 190
(a) 1296 (b) 841 10. 1331, 2197, 3375, 4914, 6859, 9261, 12167
(c) 961 (d) 1681 (a) 4919 (b) 6859
(e) None of these (c) 9261 (d) 2197
(e) 12167
2. 13, 14, 27, 45, 68, 109, 177
(a) 27 (b) 109 Directions (Qs. 11-15): In the following number
series only one number is wrong. Find out the
(c) 45 (d) 68
wrong number.
(e) None of these
[BANK OF MAHARASHTRA
3. 14, 22, 34.5, 55.5, 87.25, 135.875, 209.125 (AGRICULTURE OFFICER)]
(a) 55.5 (b) 34.5
11. 3, 7, 16, 35, 72, 153, 312
(c) 135.875 (d) 87.25
(a) 7 (b) 153
(e) None of these (c) 35 (d) 72
4. 274, 301, 426, 769, 1498, 2824, 5026 (e) 16
(a) 301 (b) 426 12. 18, 20, 23, 32, 48, 73, 109
(c) 769 (d) 2824 (a) 20 (b) 23
(e) None of these (c) 32 (d) 48
5. 4, 28, 160, 990, 6970, 55832, 502560 (e) 73
(a) 160 (b) 990 13. 7, 4, 5, 9, 20, 51, 106.5
(c) 55832 (d) 6970 (a) 4 (b) 5
(e) None of these (c) 9 (d) 20
(e) 51
Directions (Qs. 6-10): In the following number
series only one number is wrong. Find out the 14. 6, 10, 14, 34, 66, 130, 258
wrong number. [BANK OF BARODA PO] (a) 10 (b) 14
(c) 34 (d) 66
6. 7.5, 47.5, 87.5, 157.5, 247.5, 357.5, 487.5
(e) 130
(a) 357.5 (b) 87.5
15. 2, 7, 30, 138, 524, 1557, 3102
(c) 157.5 (d) 7.5
(a) 7 (b) 30
(e) 47.5
(c) 138 (d) 524
7. 13, 16, 21, 27, 39, 52, 69 (e) 1557
(a) 21 (b) 39 Directions (Qs. 16-20): In the following number
(c) 27 (d) 52 series only one number is wrong. Find out the
(e) 16 wrong number.
8. 1500, 1581, 1664, 1749, 1833, 1925, 2016 16. 1, 3, 10, 21, 64, 129, 356, 777 (RRB)
(a) 1581 (b) 1664 (a) 21 (b) 129
(c) 1833 (d) 1925 (c) 10 (d) 356
(e) 1749 (e) none of these
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6 Number Series Completion
17. 3, 4, 10, 32, 136, 685, 4116 19. 4, 10,22, 46, 96, 190, 382 (SSC)
(a) 10 (b) 32 (a) 4 (b) 10
(c) 136 (d) 4116 (c) 96 (d) 382
(e) all are correct (e) none of these
18. 2, 3, 4, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 16 20. 380, 188, 92, 48, 20, 8, 2 (RRB)
(a) 3 (b) 6 (a) 8 (b) 20
(c) 9 (d) 12 (c) 48 (d) 188
(e) none of these (e) none of these

3. Concept Cracker
Direction (Qs. 1-5): In each of these questions 5. 8 9 20 63 256 1285
a number series is given. Below the series one 5 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
number is given followed by (A), (B), (C), (D) and What will come in the place of (E)?
(E). You have to complete this series following the (a) 945 (b) 895
same logic as in the original series and answer the (c) 925 (d) 845
question that follows?
(e) None of these
 [RBI GRADE B- OFFICER] Direction (Qs. 6-7): In the following number series
1. 5 9 25 91 414 2282.5 only one number is wrong. Find out the wrong
3 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) number. [CORPORATION BANK (PO)]
What will come in the place of (C)? 6. 8, 11, 17, 47, 128, 371, 1100
(a) 11 (b) 47
(a) 63.25 (b) 63.75
(c) 17 (d) 371
(c) 64.25 (d) 64.75
(e) 128
(e) None of these
7. 1, 5, 13, 31, 61, 125, 253
2. 15 9 8 12 36 170
(a) 1 (b) 5
19 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (c) 31 (d) 61
What will come in the place of (B)? (e) 125
(a) 18 (b) 16 Direction (Qs. 8-12): In the following number
(c) 22 (d) 24 series only one number is wrong. Find out the
wrong number.
(e) None of these
[ORIENTAL BANKOF COMMERCE (PO)]
3. 7 6 10 27 104 515
8. 11, 18, 29, 42, 59, 80, 101
9 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
(a) 42 (b) 18
What will come in the place of (D)?
(c) 29 (d) 59
(a) 152 (b) 156
(e) None of these
(c) 108 (d) 112 9. 2, 9, 32, 105, 436, 2195, 13182
(e) None of these (a) 436 (b) 2195
4. 6 16 57 244 1245 7505 (c) 9 (d) 32
4 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (e) None of these
What will come in the place of (D)? 10. 5, 55, 495, 3465, 17325, 34650, 51975
(a) 985 (b) 895 (a) 495 (b) 34650
(c) 925 (d) 845 (c) 55 (d) 17325
(e) None of these
(e) None of these
Number Series Completion 7
11. 3, 7, 16, 32, 56, 93, 142 20. 6, 7, 16, 41, 90, 154, 292
(a) 56 (b) 16 (a) 7 (b) 16
(c) 32 (d) 7 (c) 41 (d) 90
(e) None of these
(e) 154
12. 4, 5, 12, 38, 160, 805, 4835
21. 5, 7, 16, 57, 244, 1245, 7506
(a) 12 (b) 160
(a) 7 (b) 16
(c) 38 (d) 805
(e) None of these (c) 57 (d) 244
(e) 1245
Direction (Qs. 13-17) What should come in place
of the question mark (?) in the following number 22. 4, 2.5, 3.5, 6.5, 15.5, 41.25, 126.75
series? [IDBI BANK (PO)] (a) 2.5 (b) 3.5
13. 9, 62, ?, 1854, 7415, 22244 (c) 6.5 (d) 15.5
(a) 433 (b) 309 (e) 41.25
(c) 406 (d) 371
Direction (Qs. 23-27) What should come in place
(e) None of these
of the question mark (?) in the following questions?
14. 4, 8, 24, 60, ?, 224
(a) 178 (b) 96 23. 325, 314, 288, 247, 191 ?
(c) 109 (d) 141 (a) 126 (b) 116
(e) None of these (c) 130 (d) 120
15. 8000, 1600, 320, 64, 12.8 ? (e) None of these
(a) 2.56 (b) 3.5 24. 45, 46, 70, 141, ?, 1061.5
(c) 3.2 (d) 2.98 (a) 353 (b) 353.5
(e) None of these
(c) 352.5 (d) 352
16. 6, 9, 15, 27, 51, ? (e) None of these
(a) 84 (b) 99
(c) 123 (d) 75 25. 620, 632, 608, 644, 596 ?
(e) None of these (a) 536 (b) 556
(c) 656 (d) 646
17. 7, 8, 18, ?, 232, 1165
(a) 84 (b) 42 (e) None of these
(c) 57 (d) 36 26. 15, 25, 40, 65, ?, 195
(e) None of these (a) 115 (b) 90
Direction (Qs. 18-22): In the following number (c) 105 (d) 120
series only one number is wrong. Find out the (e) None of these
wrong number.  [ALLAHABAD BANK (PO)]
27. 120, 320, ?, 2070, 5195, 13007.5
18. 484, 240, 120, 57, 26.5, 11.25, 3.625
(a) 800 (b) 920
(a) 240 (b) 120
(c) 57 (d) 26.5 (c) 850 (d) 900
(e) 11.25 (e) None of these

19. 3, 5, 13, 43, 176, 891, 5353 28. 27, 38, 71, 126, 203 ?
(a) 5 (b) 13 (a) 212 (b) 202
(c) 43 (d) 17 (c) 301 (d) 312
(e) 891 (e) None of these
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8 Number Series Completion
29. 435, 354, 282, 219, 165 ? 30. 4, 200, 369, 513, 634 ?
(a) 103 (b) 112 (a) 788 (b) 715
(c) 120 (d) 130 (c) 734 (d) 755
(e) None of these (e) None of these

4. Concept Deviator
1. What should come next in the following number Directions (Qs. 8-12): What should come in place
series? [CORPORATION BANK (PO)] of the question mark (?) in the following number
9753118642297531864229753 series? [INDIAN OVERSEAS BANK PO]
18642975 8. 8, 10, 18, 44, 124 ?
(a) 1 (b) 5 (a) 344 (b) 366
(c) 3 (d) 8 (c) 354 (d) 356
(e) None of these
(e) None of these
2. What should come next in the following number
9. 13, 25, 61, 121, 205 ?
series?
(a) 323 (b) 326
9 8761234598712345987123498
(c) 324 (d) 313
(a) 7 (b) 1
(e) None of these
(c) 2 (d) 5
(e) None of these 10. 656, 352, 200, 124, 86 ?
(a) 67 (b) 59
Directions (Qs. 3-7): What should come in place
of the question mark (?) in the following number (c) 62 (d) 57
series? [ANDHRA BANK PO] (e) None of these
3. 32, 49, 83, 151, 287, 559 ? 11. 454, 472, 445, 463, 436 ?
(a) 1118 (b) 979 (a) 436 (b) 456
(c) 1103 (d) 1120 (c) 454 (d) 434
(e) None of these. (e) None of these
4. 462, 552, 650, 756, 870, 992 ? 12. 12, 18, 36, 102, 360 ?
(a) 1040 (b) 1122
(a) 1364 (b) 1386
(c) 1132 (d) 1050
(c) 1384 (d) 1376
(e) None of these
(e) None of these
5. 15, 18, 16, 19, 17, 20 ?
Directions (Qs. 13-17): What should come in place
(a) 23 (b) 22
of the question mark (?) in the following number
(c) 16 (d) 18
series?  [CORPORATION BANK PO]
(e) None of these
13. 8, 11, 20, 47, 128 ?
6. 1050, 420, 168, 67.2, 26.88, 10.752 ?
(a) 4.3008 (b) 6.5038 (a) 483 (b) 488
(c) 4.4015 (d) 5.6002 (c) 397 (d) 371
(e) None of these (e) None of these

7. 0, 6, 24, 60, 120, 210 ? 14. 71, 78, 99, 134, 183 ?
(a) 343 (b) 280 (a) 253 (b) 239
(c) 335 (d) 295 (c) 246 (d) 253
(e) None of these (e) None of these
Number Series Completion 9
15. 342, 3337.5, 328.5, 315, 297 ? (c) 30 (d) 20
(a) 265.5 (b) 274.5 (e) 12
(c) 270 (d) 260 21. 32, 16, 24, 65, 210, 945, 5197.5
(e) None of these (a) 945 (b) 16
16. 161, 164, 179, 242, 497 ? (c) 24 (d) 210
(a) 1540 (b) 1480 (e) 65
(c) 1520 (d) 1440 22. 7, 13, 25, 49, 97, 194, 385
(e) None of these (a) 13 (b) 49
17. 239, 254, 284, 344, 464 ? (c) 97 (d) 194
(a) 726 (b) 716 (e) 25
(c) 724 (d) 714 Directions (Qs. 23-25): In each of these questions,
(e) None of these a number series is given. In each series, only one
Directions (Qs. 18-22): In each of these questions, number is wrong. Find out the wrong number.
a number series is given. In each series, only one  [IBPS COMMON WRITTEN EXAM (PO/MT)]
number is wrong. Find out the wrong number. 23. 7, 12, 40, 222, 1742, 17390, 208608
 [SBI (ASSOCIATES) PO] (a) 7 (b) 12
(c) 40 (d) 1742
18. 3601, 3602, 1803, 604, 154, 36, 12
(e) 208608
(a) 3602 (b) 1803
(c) 604 (d) 154 24. 6, 91, 584, 2935, 11756, 35277, 70558
(e) 36 (a) 91 (b) 70558
(c) 584 (d) 2935
19. 4, 12, 42, 196, 1005, 6066, 42511
(e) 35277
(a) 12 (b) 42
(c) 1005 (d) 196 25. 9050, 5675, 3478, 2147, 1418, 1077, 950
(e) 6066 (a) 3478 (b) 1418
(c) 5675 (d) 2147
20. 2, 8, 12, 20, 30, 42, 56
(e) 1077
(a) 8 (b) 42
 EBD_9063
10 Number Series Completion

Answer with Explanation

Concept Applicator

1. (c) The given series is in the pattern + 4, + 8, + 12, 12. (d)

+ 16, .......... 6 × 5 – 4 = 26
So, the missing term = 41 + 20 = 61
26 × 5 + 4 = 134
2. (d) The given series is in the pattern ×1, ×2, ×3,
134 × 5 – 4 = 666
×4, ..........
So, the missing term = 24 × 5= 120 666 × 5 + 4 = 3334
3. (d) The given series is in the pattern ×2 + 1, × 2 + 3334 × 5 – 4 = 16666
2, × 2 + 3,....... 16666 × 5 + 4 = ?
So, the missing term = 59 × 2 + 4 = 122 ? = 83334
4. (b) The given series is in the pattern (22 – 1), 13. (e)
(42 – 1),.......... (82 – 1), (102 – 1), (122 – 1). So, the
missing term is (62 – 1) = 35
5. (c) The given series is in the pattern ÷ 6, ÷ 5, ÷ 4,
÷ 3, ÷ 2. So, the missing term is 960 ÷ 5 = 192
6. Option(e) Series is 92, 83, 74, 65, 56, 47, 38 ? = 294 + 154 = 448
?= 38 = 6561 14. (c) The series is: + 22, + 32, + 42, + 52, + 62, …..
7. (b) Series is 23, 43, 63, 83, 103, 123, ….. 15. (e) The series is : 232, 292, 312, 372, 412, …. (Square
Then, ? = 143 = 2744. of prime numbers)
8. (a) The gap is of – 9 16. (d) The series is × 1.5, × 2, × 2.5, × 3, × 3.5
9. (e) 17. (a) The series is × 4 – 1, × 4 – 2, × 4 – 3, × 4 – 4,
….
18. (b) The series is + 123,+ (123 × 2),+(123 × 3),+
(123 × 4), ….
19. (c) the difference of the numbers (+ 111).
10. (c) the difference between the numbers increases by 1.
20. (d) The difference of the number is (– 121).
11. (b)

Concept Builder
1. (a) All nos. in the given series are squares of odd 68 + 109 = 117
nos., except 1296 So, 45 is the wrong number in this series.
1296 = (36)2 3. (e)
2. (c) 13 + 14 = 27 4. (d) The series is:
14 + 27 = 41 + 33, + 53, + 73, + 93, + 113, + 133, ………..
27 + 41 = 68 5. (d) 4 × 4 + (4 × 3) = 28
41 + 68 = 109 28 × 5 + (5 × 4) = 160