Identify the missing number in the following series: 0, 3, 8, 15, 24, ?, 48
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → 35
Each term is one less than a perfect square: \(n^2-1\) for \(n=1,2,3,\ldots\)
\(0=1^2-1\), \(3=2^2-1\), \(8=3^2-1\), \(15=4^2-1\), \(24=5^2-1\)
Missing term \(=6^2-1=35\), and the next, \(7^2-1=48\), matches the series
The same rule shows in the differences, the odd numbers 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13.