Maths puzzle mystery: Can you crack the sequence code?
An apparently simple maths puzzle is causing considerable difficulties. "What will be next?" - see if you can answer this question by examining the numbers arranged in a single row along with four possible answers. Only one is correct.
Maths puzzles and riddles are excellent exercises for logical thinking. Sometimes, however, they can evoke strong emotions and even frustration, particularly when a puzzle that seemed simple proves challenging to solve.
Solve the maths puzzle
"What will be next?" - this is the key question of the maths puzzle published on the website logiclike.com. It is based on the following numbers:
25, 20, 16, 13, 11...
What will the next number be? What determines the order of these numbers?
The possible answers are:
- 10,
- 7,
- 9,
- 8.
Which answer is correct?
Solving this maths puzzle is not straightforward. The first step is to identify what determines the order of the numbers and why they follow this sequence. Once we recognise this, it becomes clear that:
- Subtracting the second number from the first, i.e., 25 minus 20, results in 5.
- Subtracting the third number from the second, i.e., 20 minus 16, results in 4.
- Subtracting the fourth number from the third, i.e., 16 minus 13, results in 3.
- Subtracting the fifth number from the fourth, i.e., 13 minus 11, results in 2.
- Following this pattern, the result of the last operation is 1. Therefore, the correct answer is 10, because 11 minus 10 gives us 1.
The complete sequence is as follows:
25 (-5) 20 (-4) 16 (-3) 13 (-2) 11 (-1) 10
Did you guess the correct number? If so, congratulations! If not, don't worry. Keep practising, as practice makes perfect. Try solving other puzzles.
