Find the number that will come next in the following series.
3, 8, 22, 63, 185, ?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → 550
The terms grow about three times each step, so compare each term with three times the one before. The rule is multiply by 3, then subtract 1, 2, 3, 4, ... in turn:
\(3\times3-1=8\)
\(8\times3-2=22\)
\(22\times3-3=63\)
\(63\times3-4=185\)
\(185\times3-5=550\)
So the missing number is 550.