Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: 128
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Many decreasing sequences are built by subtracting a series of numbers that themselves follow a simple pattern. Here the intended subtractions decrease by a constant amount each time. We must find the single term that disrupts this rhythm.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Check consecutive differences: 190→166 (−24), 166→145 (−21), 145→128 (−17), 128→112 (−16), 112→100 (−12), 100→91 (−9). A cleaner intended pattern is to subtract numbers that drop by 3 each time: −24, −21, −18, −15, −12, −9.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Start with 190; subtract 24 to get 166 ✔Subtract 21 to get 145 ✔Next should subtract 18 to get 127, but the series shows 128 ✖Continue the intended pattern: 127 − 15 = 112 ✔Then 112 − 12 = 100 ✔; 100 − 9 = 91 ✔Therefore, 128 is the single inconsistent value; it should have been 127.
Verification / Alternative check:
The corrected series 190, 166, 145, 127, 112, 100, 91 uses differences −24, −21, −18, −15, −12, −9, a neat arithmetic-step pattern.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Overfitting irregular difference lists; instead, try to find the simplest consistent rule that fixes the sequence with a single correction.
Final Answer:
128
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