Alphabet series – find the missing letter: Z, U, Q, ?, L

Introduction / Context:This single-blank alphabet sequence relies on steadily changing gaps between letters. Spotting the step sizes (in letter positions) quickly leads to the missing term.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Z(26), U(21), Q(17), ?, L(12).
• Exactly one letter is missing.

Concept / Approach:Convert letters to positions and examine differences. A common pattern is a decreasing step size such as −5, −4, −3, −2 … applied consecutively.

Step-by-Step Solution:Z → U : 26 → 21 = −5.U → Q : 21 → 17 = −4.Therefore the next step should be −3: 17 − 3 = 14 = N.Finally, 14 → 12 = −2 gives L, which matches the given last term.

Verification / Alternative check:Rewriting with steps: −5, −4, −3, −2 confirms a clean descending-differences pattern that lands exactly on L when inserting N as the missing letter.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• I, J, K, M do not maintain the required −5, −4, −3, −2 chain and would lead to an incorrect final value.

Common Pitfalls:

• Guessing a single constant step rather than recognizing a simple staircase of reducing differences.

Final Answer:N