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Buell Motorcycle Forum » Quick Board Archives » Archive 0212 (December 2002) » Humor » Sequential Problem? « Previous Next »

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X96283
Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 05:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

hello

I am helping a friend (yes really) with the following problem. These numbers are in sequence and there's a pattern.

25,20,16,12,4/5, _____

what comes next? why?

puzzled . . .

giusto
00 m2
Oahu-->Bosnia
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Shot_Gun
Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 11:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Phil, if the last number is 12 and 4/5ths then the next number is 10.24, or 10 and 6/25ths. Every number is reduced by
20%. If it isn't then I'll have to go back to the drawing board. Let me know I love these math problems

SG
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X96283
Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 01:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thanks

I noticed the 20% decrease, but what got me is that there was clearly a comma between the numbers. It is not 12 4/5 but 12, 4/5

This was a sample question from one of my soldier's practice GT Test. Totally boggled my brain.

Tanks and jeeps,

giusto
00 M2
Oahu-->Bosnia
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Shot_Gun
Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 02:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I give up? I been working on it an hour and haven't really come up with squat. The sequence breaks down at "16,12,4/5" You could argue that it should be "12,4/5,10,6/25" But with out more info who's to say. 4/5 doesn't seem to have any relationship with 12 so I'm lost. You will have to let us know what it is when you find the answer

Give my sincere thanks to all of you for all and what you do!

SG
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Blake
Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 04:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

25, 20, 16, 12, 4/5, 9, 6, 4, 2, 2/3

Looks like a once repeating five number sequence as follows...

perfect square (25),
perfect square - root (25-5=20),
next lower perfect square (16),
perfect square - root (16-4=12),
inverse ratio of roots (4/5),
the next lower perfect square is (9)
perfect square - root (9-3=6)
next lower perfect square is (4)
square minus root (4-2=2)
inverse ratio of roots (2/3)

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Jst
Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 05:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I'm not sure how 4/5 comes in but each number is 4/5ths of the number before it. IE: 20 is 4/5ths of 25 etc. If you take out the 4/5 you would have 9.6 as the next number. I'm sure there is at least one Mensa member on the board who can see a better solution than me.
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Anonymous
Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 05:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Uh Blake...you got way too much gray matter
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Anonymous
Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 05:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

SOMETIMES I SITS AND THINKS AND SOMETIMES I JUST SITS........
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Raymaines
Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 06:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Blake: You're weird!
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Reindog
Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 07:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Blake's logic is correct. It is doubtful that the comma is a typo between 12,4/5.
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Joem
Posted on Friday, June 14, 2002 - 10:16 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

First, it has to be 12 4/5

Then, you have a Geometric Sequence where the equation is

a(n) = a(1) * (r)^(n-1) Sorry, I don't have the fancy math symbols.

Here we go...

25 = 25 * (4/5)^0

20 = 25 * (4/5)^1

16 = 25 * (4/5)^2

12 4/5 = 25 * (4/5)^3

10 6/25 = 25 * (4/5)^4


Or, long story short, what Shotgun said in the first place.
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