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#1 2010-06-14 22:07:27
- 1a2b3c2212
- Member
- Registered: 2009-04-04
- Posts: 419
Pattern
any idea what's the 6th term for 49,54,41,66,25, ___
and if possible the nth term.
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#2 2010-06-14 22:35:08
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Pattern
I like 86 for the next term.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#3 2010-06-14 22:36:52
- 1a2b3c2212
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- Registered: 2009-04-04
- Posts: 419
Re: Pattern
why 86?
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#4 2010-06-14 22:41:25
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Pattern
I used a difference table:
0 th differences 49 54 41 66 25
1 st differences 5 -13 25 -41
2 nd differences 8 12 16 Absolute value of them
Remember, there are an infinite amount of answers here. In the absence of a specific relation, differences are as as good as anything else.
Most likely there is some trick pattern that he is interested in and that one I am not seeing. As a possible bad omen the boys at the physics forum didn't see it either.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#5 2010-06-14 22:59:28
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Pattern
Hi 1a2b3c2212;
Here is another one:
49 54 41 66 25
Even terms are going up by 12 and the odd terms ( 1,3,5 ) are going down by 8 , 16... So the next term is 78.
Or first 2) 49 + 54 = 103, next 2) 41 + 66 = 107 , so the next 2 should some to 111, 25 + 86 sum to 111 so the next number is 86 again.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#6 2010-06-14 23:15:51
- Hydroex
- Member
- Registered: 2010-06-14
- Posts: 13
Re: Pattern
@bobbym
On ur third post, you said even terms are going up by 12 and the odd terms are going down by 8, 16. So the next term is 78. But, if you notice that the odd terms are going down by 8 , 16 << which is twice the multiple, then again for even, the first term went up by 12 so shouldn't the second go up by the next multiple of 12, which is 24? Giving us 66+ 24 = 90?
:d
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#7 2010-06-14 23:31:35
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Pattern
Hi hydroex;
Yea, that is yet another idea. They are all correct. And if we keep looking we are going to find many more. 78. 86, 90 they are all reasonable answers. Fact is there are an infinite amount of answers.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#8 2010-06-14 23:36:18
- Hydroex
- Member
- Registered: 2010-06-14
- Posts: 13
Re: Pattern
Infinite answers it is, but is it still possible to come up with an nth term though?
:d
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#9 2010-06-15 04:37:37
- soroban
- Member
- Registered: 2007-03-09
- Posts: 452
Re: Pattern
.
. .
. .
.
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#10 2010-06-15 05:16:03
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Pattern
Hi 1a2b3c2212 and Hydroex;
Here is one form for the nth term.
This one predicts that the next term will be - 346.
And welcome to the forum Hydroex.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#11 2010-06-26 01:34:07
- Hydroex
- Member
- Registered: 2010-06-14
- Posts: 13
Re: Pattern
hmm, cool stuff! thanks!
:d
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#12 2010-06-26 01:41:48
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Pattern
Hi Hydroex;
Which one did you like best?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#13 2010-06-26 01:52:45
- Hydroex
- Member
- Registered: 2010-06-14
- Posts: 13
Re: Pattern
I don't understand either lol!!! Sorry man haha
:d
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#14 2010-06-26 01:54:29
- Hydroex
- Member
- Registered: 2010-06-14
- Posts: 13
Re: Pattern
On a second thought, i prefer yours. Just sub in right...At first sight it seemed too profound haha
:d
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#15 2010-06-26 02:56:43
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Pattern
Hi Hydroex;
Infinite answers it is, but is it still possible to come up with an nth term though?
Yes, you should be able to come up with an nth term for each one. There will be an infinite amount of them.
If this is a question your teacher posed or a contest problem then I feel none of the above answers will satisfy the questioner. He/she is probably looking for something specific. Just between you and I this question shows that the poser has little or no mathematical sophistication. Who can say what they are thinking of.
The toughest one someone posed to me once was.
3,3,5,4,4,3,5,5,__
I never got it. Had to be shown to me, Made no sense at all and was totally weird.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#16 2010-06-26 03:03:02
- Hydroex
- Member
- Registered: 2010-06-14
- Posts: 13
Re: Pattern
Hi bobbym;
Yeap, it is a test paper question. Answer has to be specific. Sadly there wasn't a answer key, otherwise we wouldn't need to go through such trouble!
hmm 3,3,5,4,4,3,5,5,_? Haha, another pattern question? No thanks!!
:d
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#17 2010-06-26 03:20:50
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Pattern
Hi;
Go with the one you like best. Just know that there isn't any real solution to that. Just an arbitrary one. The questioner may not know that.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#18 2011-09-27 05:50:19
- Easeab
- Guest
Re: Pattern
Hey! The formula for nth term, is just 50 + n^2 for even terms, and 50 - n^2 for odd terms.
So the 6th term is 86
#19 2011-09-27 08:06:01
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Pattern
Hi Easeab;
That is one possible 6th term. That might make sense to a human mind but mathematically there is no reason to prefer it to say, 533.
Welcome to the forum.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#20 2011-09-27 08:55:59
- Bob
- Administrator
- Registered: 2010-06-20
- Posts: 10,626
Re: Pattern
hi bobbym
3,3,5,4,4,3,5,5,__
Bob
Last edited by Bob (2011-09-27 08:56:24)
Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you! …………….Bob 
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#21 2011-09-27 13:24:36
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Pattern
Hi bob bundy;
3,6,6,8,... I remember it well.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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