Choose the number that will come next in the following series.
50, 45, 47, 42, 44, 39, ?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → 41
The series goes down and up in turn, so look at the steps: they are −5 and +2 alternately.
\(50-5=45\), \(45+2=47\)
\(47-5=42\), \(42+2=44\)
\(44-5=39\)
The next step is +2: \(39+2=41\)
So the next number is 41.