Find the number that will come next in the series given below.
2, 5, 13, 36, 104, ?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → 307
The terms grow about three times each step, so compare each term with three times the term before. The rule is ×3, then subtract 1, 2, 3, 4, ... in turn:
\(2\times3-1=5\)
\(5\times3-2=13\)
\(13\times3-3=36\)
\(36\times3-4=104\)
\(104\times3-5=307\)
So the next number is 307.