Directions: Determine the term that should replace the question mark (?) to complete the given numerical sequence.
4, 5, 13, 22, 86, ?
Correct Answer :
111
Solution :
The correct answer is 111.
To determine the missing term in the given numerical sequence, we analyze the pattern of differences between consecutive terms:
4, 5, 13, 22, 86, ?
Let us compute the step-by-step differences:
Difference between the 1st and 2nd terms:
Difference between the 2nd and 3rd terms:
Difference between the 3rd and 4th terms:
Difference between the 4th and 5th terms:
From the steps above, we observe an alternating pattern of adding consecutive natural numbers raised to alternating powers of 2 (squares) and 3 (cubes):
+12, +23, +32, +43, ...
To find the 6th term, the next increment must be 52 (which equals 25):
Therefore, the term that replaces the question mark (?) is 111.
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