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41 votes
Identify a pattern in this list of numbers. 5, 6, 8, 11, 15, 20,

User Nethsix
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1 Answer

21 votes
21 votes

5, 6, 8, 11, 15, 20

The difference in 1st term and 2nd term = 6 - 5 = 1

The difference in 3rd and 2nd term = 8 - 6 = 2

The difference in 4th and 3rd term = 11 - 8 = 3

The difference in 5th and 4th term = 15 - 11 = 4

The difference in 6th and 5th term = 20 - 15 = 5

The differences are the counting numbers, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... etc.

If we go on like this, we know the next number would be 6 added to previous.

The next to next would be 7 added to its previous. Thus, the numbers following this would be:

20 + 6 = 26

26 + 7 = 33

33 + 8 = 41

41 + 9 = 50

The extended list is:

5, 6, 8, 11, 15, 20, 26, 33, 41, 50 ... [goes on...]

User Drue
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