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Look at this series: 2, 6, 18, 54, ... What number should come next?
  • a)
    108
  • b)
    148
  • c)
    162
  • d)
    216
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Aisha Gupta answered
CORRECT OPTION IS (C)
This is a simple multiplication series. Each number is 3 times more than the previous number.

Find the missing number.
17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, _____
  • a)
    47 
  • b)
    43 
  • c)
    40 
  • d)
    41
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Shruti Dey answered
The given numbers are consecutive prime numbers in increasing order starting with 17.
Hence, the next number in the series is 41.

Look at this series: 201, 202, 204, 207, ... What number should come next?
  • a)
    205
  • b)
    208
  • c)
    210
  • d)
    211
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Nandini Iyer answered
In this addition series, 1 is added to the first number; 2 is added to the second number; 3 is added to the third number; 4 is added to the fourth number; and go on.

0, 4, 18, 48, ___, 180
  • a)
    58
  • b)
    144
  • c)
    84
  • d)
    100
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Lavanya Menon answered
1st term = 5
2nd term = 5 × 2 + 3 = 13
3rd term = 13 × 3 + 2 = 41
4th term = 41 × 2 + 3 = 85 
5th term = 85 × 3 + 2 =257...
⇒ For every term at even position, the previous term is multiplied by 2 and 3 is added.
⇒ For every term at odd position, the previous term is multiplied by 3 and 2 is added.
So the missing term is: 257 × 2 + 3 = 517

D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M N, ___
  • a)
  • b)
    P
  • c)
  • d)
    R
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Nandini Dey answered
6th to the right of 13th letter means:
13 + 6 = 19th letter, which is “S”.

Hence  option B is correct answer 

For Complete syllabus of Logical Reasoning (LR) and Data Interpretation (DI) for CAT click on the link given below:

Look at this series: 14, 28, 20, 40, 32, 64, ... What number should come next?
  • a)
    52
  • b)
    56
  • c)
    92
  • d)
    128
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Anjali Gupta answered
The series is 14, 28, 20, 40, 32, 64
Take three terms at a time. The notation be as follows:-
Let, First term = a = 14
It is evident that Second term= 2*a = 2 * 14 = 28 and,
The Third term = Second term - 8 OR ( 2*a - 8 ) = 28 - 8 = 20
Now consider the third, fourth and the fifth term.
Let, Third term = a = 20
It is evident that Fourth term= 2*a = 2 * 20 = 40 and,
The Fifth term = Second term - 8 OR ( 2*a - 8 ) = 40 - 8 = 32
Similarly consider fifth, sixth and the seventh(term to be found).
Let, Fifth term = a = 32
It is evident that Sixth term = 2*a = 2 * 32 = 64 and,
The Seventh term ( term to calculated) = Second term - 8 OR ( 2*a - 8 ) = 64 - 8 = 56
 

17, __, 65, 113, 129, 161, 209.
  • a)
    34
  • b)
    33
  • c)
    40 
  • d)
    44
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Shalini Patel answered
1st term = 8
2nd term = 8 x 2 = 16
3rd term = 16 x 3 = 48
4th term = 48 x 2 = 96
5th term = 96 x 3 = 288
6th term = 288 x 2 = 576...
⇒ For every term at even position, the previous term is multiplied by 2.
⇒ For every term at odd position, the previous term is multiplied by 3.
So the missing term is: 576 × 3 = 1728

If the first five letter of the alphabet series are in reverse order, than next five letters are in reverse order and so on… 
Q. Which letter Is 5th to the left of 12th letter from the right hand side of the alphabet series?
  • a)
    J                
  • b)
    T              
  • c)
    E         
  • d)
    S
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Vikas Kapoor answered
The given series is a mixed series.
  • Pattern for the first letter:
    K + 1, L + 1, M + 1, N + 1, O
  • Pattern for the second letter:
    P – 1, O – 1, N – 1, M – 1, L
  • Pattern for the third letter:
    D + 1, E + 1, F + 1, G + 1, H
  • Hence, the next group in the series is OLH.

97, 83, 73, 67, 59, _____
  • a)
    47
  • b)
    49 
  • c)
    52
  • d)
    53
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Aditya Kumar answered
List of Prime Numbers from 1 to 100:
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97,...
The given numbers are alternate prime numbers in decreasing order, starting with 97.
Hence, the next number in the series is 47.

12000, 2395, 474, 89.8, ___.
  • a)
    17.96
  • b)
    12.96
  • c)
    22.96 
  • d)
    none of these
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Vikas Kapoor answered
The given numbers are squares of consecutive natural numbers in decreasing order starting with 15,
i.e., the numbers 225, 196, 169, ____, 100, 81 can be written as 152, 142, 132 , ____, 112 , 102 , 92.
Hence, the missing number is 122 = 144.

Look at this series: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ... What number should come next?
  • a)
    11
  • b)
    12
  • c)
    13
  • d)
    14
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Kiran Reddy answered
Each number increases by 2.
Like -
First number is 2
Second number = 2 + 2 =4
Third number = 4 + 2 = 6
Fourth number = 6 + 2 = 8
Fifth number = 8 + 2 = 10  and
Sixth number = 10 + 2 = 12
Hence, The answer is (b) 12.

Look at this series: 1.5, 2.3, 3.1, 3.9, ... What number should come next?
  • a)
    4.2
  • b)
    4.4
  • c)
    4.7
  • d)
    5.1
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Alok Mehta answered
In this simple addition series, each number increases by 0.8.
Rule = (1st no.) (1st no. + 0.8 = 2nd no.) (2nd no. + 0.8 = 3rd number)...
Now (1.5) (1.5 + 0.8 = 2.3) (2.3 + 0.8 = 3.1) (3.1 + 0.8 = 3.9) (3.9 + 0.8 = 4.7)...
So the anwser is c = 4.7

1, 8, 28, 99, 412, 2075, ____.
  • a)
    12450 
  • b)
    12462
  • c)
    10387
  • d)
    10375
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Lavanya Menon answered
The 1st to 5th terms are 0, 5, 22, 57, 116.
These terms are 1 – 1, 8 – 3, 27 – 5, 64 – 7, 125 – 9.
i.e. 13 – 1, 23 – 3, 33 – 5, 43 – 7, 53 – 9
So, the nth term of the series: n3 – (2n – 1).
So, the 6th term of the series is 63 – (2 × 6 –1) = 216 – 11 = 205.

A, B, D, H, ?
  • a)
  • b)
  • c)
  • d)
    H
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Arnav Kumar answered
Solution:
The given sequence is: A, B, D, H, ____, F
We have to find the missing term.

Explanation:
The given sequence can be interpreted as follows:
- Start with A.
- Move one step in the clockwise direction to get B.
- Move two steps in the clockwise direction to get D.
- Move four steps in the clockwise direction to get H.
- Move eight steps in the clockwise direction to get the missing term.
- Move sixteen steps in the clockwise direction to get F.

So, the missing term can be found by moving eight steps in the clockwise direction from H.

Moving eight steps in the clockwise direction from H, we get the letter 'P'.

Therefore, the missing term in the given sequence is 'P'.

Hence, option 'A' is the correct answer.

100, 70, 46, 28, __, 10
  • a)
    17
  • b)
    15
  • c)
    20
  • d)
    16
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Vivek Patel answered
1st term = 75
2nd term = 75 + 216 = 75 + 63 = 291
3rd term = 291 + 125 = 291 + 53 = 416
4th term = 416 + 64 = 416 + 43 = 480
5th term = 480 + 27 = 480 + 33 = 507...
The differences are cubes of consecutive natural numbers in decreasing order from 6.
So, the missing term = 507 + 8 = 507 + 23 = 515

G, J, N, Q, U, ___
  • a)
  • b)
    Y
  • c)
  • d)
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Muskaan Ahuja answered
6th from the right end means 27–6 = 21st from left).
Therefore, 21 – 9 = 12th letter, which is “L”.

Look at this series: 80, 10, 70, 15, 60, ... What number should come next?
  • a)
    20
  • b)
    25
  • c)
    30
  • d)
    50
Correct answer is 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Varun Kapoor answered
This is an alternating addition and subtraction series. In the first pattern, 10 is subtracted from each number to arrive at the next. In the second, 5 is added to each number to arrive at the next.

7, 9, 13, 21, 37, ____
  • a)
    58
  • b)
    63
  • c)
    69
  • d)
    72
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Lavanya Menon answered
The common difference between consecutive terms is 6, 12, 6, 12 & so on. So, the term next to 141 is 141 + 6 = 147

Which letter is 7th to the right of 11th letter from the right end of the alphabet series?
  • a)
    W
  • b)
    V
  • c)
  • d)
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Harshad Chawla answered
7th to the right of 11th from the right end (11th from right end means 27 – 11 = 16th from left end).
Therefore, 16 + 7 = 23rd letter, which is “W”.

1, 2, 8, 33, 148, __.
  • a)
    265
  • b)
    465
  • c)
    565
  • d)
    765
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Ankit Saini answered
1*1 + (1)2 = 1+1 = 2
2*2 + (2)2 = 4+4 = 8
8*3 + (3)2 = 24+9 = 33
33*4 + (4)2 = 132+16 = 148
148*5 + (5)2 =740+25 = 765

Directions to Solve
In each of the following questions, various terms of an alphabet series are given with one or more terms missing as shown by (?). Choose the missing terms out of the given alternatives.
Question -
b e d f ? h j ? l
  • a)
    i m
  • b)
    m i
  • c)
    i n
  • d)
    j m
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Swati Singh answered
The series may be divided into groups as shown:
b e d / f ? h / j ? l
Clearly in the first group, the second and third letters are respectively three and two steps ahead of the first letter.
A similar pattern would follow in the second and third groups.

2F3, 3O5, 5I7, 7Y11, ____
  • a)
    11L13 
  • b)
    11J15 
  • c)
    13M17
  • d)
    11M13
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Nisha Mehta answered
  • In each term the numbers are pairs of consecutive prime numbers.
  • The letter between them has the place value equal to the product of the two numbers on either side of it.
∵ The next two prime numbers are 11 and 13 whose product is 143. The 143rd letter is (26 × 5 + 13) M.
as there are only 26 alphabet so there would be multiple rounds to reach 143 and we have to look at remainder.
∴ 11M13 is the next term.

Directions to Solve
In each of the following questions, various terms of an alphabet series are given with one or more terms missing as shown by (?). Choose the missing terms out of the given alternatives.
Question -
PMT, OOS, NQR, MSQ, ?
  • a)
    LUP
  • b)
    LVP
  • c)
    LVR
  • d)
    LWP
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Tarun Unni answered
Pattern Analysis:
- The given terms in the alphabet series are PMT, OOS, NQR, MSQ.
- By observing the series, we can see that each letter in the term is moved one step back in the alphabet.
- So, following the same pattern, the next term should have each letter moved one step back in the alphabet.

Finding the Missing Term:
- The next term after MSQ would be LUP.
- L is one step back from M, U is one step back from S, and P is one step back from Q.
Therefore, the missing term in the series is LUP.

If the first five letter of the alphabet series are in reverse order, than next five letters are in reverse order and so on… 
Q. Which letter is 5th to the right of 12th letter from the left hand side of the alphabet series?
  • a)
  • b)
    R
  • c)
  • d)
    V
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Arshiya Saha answered
When letters are in reverse order in group of five
Letters each:
5th to the right of 12th letter means, 12 + 5 = 17th
Which lies in 4thgroup(16-20). Therefore,
16 + 20 = 36     36 – 17 = 19th
Which is “S”. 

Directions to Solve
In each of the following questions, various terms of an alphabet series are given with one or more terms missing as shown by (?). Choose the missing terms out of the given alternatives.
Question -
AYD, BVF, DRH, ?, KGL
  • a)
    FMI
  • b)
    GMJ
  • c)
    GLJ
  • d)
    HLK
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Ankita Dey answered
LR (Logical Reasoning) Category

To solve this question, we need to identify the pattern or rule followed by the given alphabet series and then find the missing term based on that pattern.

Given series: AYD, BVF, DRH, ?, KGL

Pattern: Let's analyze the given series step by step to identify the pattern:

1. The first letter in each term is in alphabetical order, i.e., A, B, C, D, etc.
2. The second letter in each term follows a pattern where it goes back two letters in the English alphabet, i.e., Y, W, U, S, etc.
3. The third letter in each term follows a pattern where it goes forward two letters in the English alphabet, i.e., D, F, H, J, etc.

Now, let's use this pattern to find the missing term.

Missing term:

1. The first letter should be the next letter in the alphabetical order after the last given term, which is 'H'. So, the first letter of the missing term should be 'I'.
2. The second letter should go back two letters from the last given term, which is 'R'. So, the second letter of the missing term should be 'P'.
3. The third letter should go forward two letters from the last given term, which is 'H'. So, the third letter of the missing term should be 'J'.

Therefore, the missing term in the given series is 'IPJ'.

Options:
a) FMI
b) GMJ
c) GLJ
d) HLK

Correct Answer: Option b) GMJ

Explanation:
The missing term 'IPJ' matches with option b) GMJ, which follows the same pattern as the given series. Thus, option b) is the correct answer.

Directions to Solve
In each of the following questions, various terms of an alphabet series are given with one or more terms missing as shown by (?). Choose the missing terms out of the given alternatives.
Question -
A, B, B, D, C, F, D; H, E, ?, ?
  • a)
    E, F
  • b)
    F, G
  • c)
    F, I
  • d)
    J, F
  • e)
    J, K
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Anu Reddy answered
Understanding the Series
The series provided is: A, B, B, D, C, F, D; H, E, ?, ?
Breaking Down the Series
1. First Part of the Series:
- A, B, B, D, C, F, D
- Observing the pattern:
- A to B is +1
- B to B is 0
- B to D is +2
- D to C is -1
- C to F is +3
- F to D is -2
2. Identifying the Pattern:
- The pattern alternates between increasing and decreasing:
- +1, 0, +2, -1, +3, -2
- Next, we would expect:
- +4 (after D)
3. Finding the Next Term:
- D (4th letter) + 4 = H (8th letter of the alphabet)
- This matches the starting point of the second part of the series.
Analyzing the Second Part of the Series
1. Second Part of the Series:
- H, E, ?, ?
- The first term is H, the second term is E.
2. Finding the Pattern:
- H to E is -3 (H(8) - E(5) = 3)
- Continuing this pattern, we would look for the next term:
- E(5) - 3 = B(2)
3. Finding the Next Term:
- Therefore, the next term after E is B.
- Following this, we can deduce the last term will be:
- B(2) - 3 = Y(25)
Conclusion
Based on the derived patterns, the missing terms in the series are:
- The first missing term is F (after H, E).
- The second missing term is J (after F, F).
Thus, the correct answer is option D: J, F.

Directions to Solve
In each of the following questions, various terms of an alphabet series are given with one or more terms missing as shown by (?). Choose the missing terms out of the given alternatives.
Question -
Y, B, T, G, O, ?
  • a)
    N
  • b)
    M
  • c)
    L
  • d)
    K
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

The given sequence is a combination of two series :
I. Y,T, O and II. B, G, ?
I consists of 2nd, 7th and 12th letters from the end of the English alphabet, while
II consists of 2nd, 7th and 12th letters from the beginning of the English alphabet.
So, the missing letter in II is the 12th letter from the beginning of the English alphabet, which is L.

Directions to Solve
In each of the following questions, various terms of an alphabet series are given with one or more terms missing as shown by (?). Choose the missing terms out of the given alternatives.
Question -
AB, DEF, HIJK, ?, STUVWX
  • a)
    LMNO
  • b)
    LMNOP
  • c)
    MNOPQ
  • d)
    QRSTU
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

The number of letters in the terms of the given series increases by one at each step.
The first letter of each term is two steps ahead of the last letter of the preceding term.
However, each term consists of consecutive letters in order.

Chapter doubts & questions for Series - CSAT Preparation 2025 is part of UPSC CSE exam preparation. The chapters have been prepared according to the UPSC CSE exam syllabus. The Chapter doubts & questions, notes, tests & MCQs are made for UPSC CSE 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, notes, meanings, examples, exercises, MCQs and online tests here.

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