Postal Examination: Logical Reasoning Number Series for PA / SA Exam 2014

Look at this series: 2, 1, (1/2), (1/4), ... What number should come next?

A.	(1/3)	B.	(1/8)
C.	(2/8)	D.	(1/16)

Answer & Explanation

Answer: Option B

Explanation:

This is a simple division series; each number is one-half of the previous number.

In other terms to say, the number is divided by 2 successively to get the next result.

4/2 = 2
2/2 = 1
1/2 = 1/2
(1/2)/2 = 1/4
(1/4)/2 = 1/8 and so on.

Look at this series: 7, 10, 8, 11, 9, 12, ... What number should come next?

A.	7	B.	10
C.	12	D.	13

Answer & Explanation

Answer: Option B

Explanation:

This is a simple alternating addition and subtraction series. In the first pattern, 3 is added; in the second, 2 is subtracted.

Look at this series: 36, 34, 30, 28, 24, ... What number should come next?

A.	20	B.	22
C.	23	D.	26

Answer & Explanation

Answer: Option B

Explanation:

This is an alternating number subtraction series. First, 2 is subtracted, then 4, then 2, and so on.

Look at this series: 22, 21, 23, 22, 24, 23, ... What number should come next?

A.	22	B.	24
C.	25	D.	26

Answer & Explanation

Answer: Option C

Explanation:

In this simple alternating subtraction and addition series; 1 is subtracted, then 2 is added, and so on.

Look at this series: 53, 53, 40, 40, 27, 27, ... What number should come next?

A.	12	B.	14
C.	27	D.	53

Answer & Explanation

Answer: Option B

Explanation:

In this series, each number is repeated, then 13 is subtracted to arrive at the next number.

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