Home » Verbal Reasoning » Series Completion

Number series (arithmetic step pattern): Find the next term in 125, 80, 45, 20, ? Observe the steadily increasing (less negative) step differences and continue the pattern. Choose the correct value.

Q: Number series (arithmetic step pattern): Find the next term in 125, 80, 45, 20, ? Observe the steadily increasing (less negative) step differences and continue the pattern. Choose the correct value.

Compute differences 80 − 125 = −45 45 − 80 = −35 20 − 45 = −25 Pattern Each step increases by +10 (−45, −35, −25, …), so next step is −15. Next term 20 + (−15) = 5.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 5

Explanation:

Compute differences
80 − 125 = −45 45 − 80 = −35 20 − 45 = −25

Pattern
Each step increases by +10 (−45, −35, −25, …), so next step is −15.

Next term
20 + (−15) = 5.

← Previous Question Next Question→

More Questions from Series Completion

Interleaved squares and cubes: Determine the missing term in 1, 1, 4, 8, 9, 27, 16, ? Odd positions are perfect squares (1², 2², 3², 4², …) and even positions are perfect cubes (1³, 2³, 3³, 4³, …). Compute the 8th term. Choose the correct value.
Number series (missing term): Identify the value that correctly continues the alternating multiplication pattern. Given sequence: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18, ?, 54 Pattern hint: terms alternate between ×2 and ×1.5 (i.e., ×3/2). Choose the correct missing number.
Number series (find the next term): Use the alternating 2×±1 rule. Given sequence: 6, 13, 25, 51, 101, ? Observation hint: each term is about double the previous, with alternating +1 and −1. Choose the correct next number.
Number series (missing term): Differences follow triangular numbers. Given sequence: 5, 6, 9, 15, ?, 40 Hint: successive differences are 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, … Choose the correct missing number.
Number series (next term): Apply a Tribonacci-type recurrence. Given sequence: 1, 3, 4, 8, 15, 27, ? Hint: each term equals the sum of the previous three terms (Tribonacci). Choose the correct next number.
Number series (next term): Two interleaved progressions with increasing gaps. Given sequence: 3, 4, 7, 7, 13, 13, 21, 22, 31, 34, ? Hint: treat odd and even positions separately. Choose the correct next number.
Number series (missing term): Successive subtractions of perfect squares. Given sequence: 198, 194, 185, 169, ? Hint: subtract 2², 3³? No—subtract squares in order: 4, 9, 16, 25, … Choose the correct missing number.
Number series (identify the prime): Fill the missing prime number. Given sequence: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, ?, 17 Choose the correct missing prime.
Number series (missing term): Differences increase by a constant step. Given sequence: 6, 12, 21, ?, 48 Hint: successive differences rise by 3 each time (6, 9, 12, 15, …). Choose the correct missing number.
Geometric progression (term index): Find which term equals 1280. Series definition: 5, 10, 20, 40, … (each term doubles the previous). Determine the term number n for which the value is 1280. Choose the correct index.

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

Join Discussion