Final answer:
The missing number in the sequence is found by observing the pattern of consecutively increasing even numbers in the differences between terms. The next even number after 14 is 18, so we add 18 to the last given number, 35, to get the missing number, which is 53.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the missing number in the sequence 3, 5, 11, 21, 35, ..., we should look for a pattern in the differences of consecutive numbers. Let's calculate the differences:
- 5 - 3 = 2
- 11 - 5 = 6
- 21 - 11 = 10
- 35 - 21 = 14
The differences between the terms are succeeding even numbers: 2, 6, 10, and 14. This suggests that to find the missing number, we should add the next even number after 14 to the last number in the given sequence (which is 35). The next even number after 14 is 18.
Therefore, the missing number is 35 + 18 = 53.