Question

What should come in place of the question mark (?) in the given series? 12 31 59 114 214 ?

• A. 368
• B. 307
• C. 377
• D. 386

Answer 1

Answer:

C. 377

Let’s look at the pattern step by step:

Series:
12, 31, 59, 114, 214, ?

Find differences

• 31 − 12 = 19

• 59 − 31 = 28

• 114 − 59 = 55

• 214 − 114 = 100

So the differences are:
19, 28, 55, 100

Look at second differences

• 28 − 19 = 9

• 55 − 28 = 27

• 100 − 55 = 45

Second differences:
9, 27, 45

Third differences

• 27 − 9 = 18

• 45 − 27 = 18

Third difference is constant (18), so continue the pattern:

Next second difference = 45 + 18 = 63
Next first difference = 100 + 63 = 163

Find next term

Next term = 214 + 163 = 377

Final Answer: 377