IBPS PO Exam: Quantitative Aptitude: Number Series - Study Material

Institute of Banking and Personnel Selection (IBPS) is ready to conduct the Common Written Examination (CWE) for appointing the eligible candidates to the post of Probationary Officers in private sector banks. IBPS PO Exam 2013 is scheduled to be conducted on 19 October 2013, 20 October 2013, 26 October 2013, and 27 October 2013. The five different sections are integrated in the common written examination that are Reasoning, General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Computer Knowledge.

Quantitative Aptitude section of the common written examination includes 40 questions on different topics for example Time & Work, Profit, Percentage Partnership and Share, Loss & Discount, Data Interpretation and more. In order to guide the aspirants in appropriate manner, Banking Experts of the Jagranjosh.com develop good study materials and practice papers.

Number Series is a very important part of quantitative aptitude, which is summarized in this article.

Number Series

In Number Series, questions are asked on the basis of relation between numbers given in a series. The questions asked can be divided into different types:

Type I: In this type of questions, a series of numbers is given with one number missing represented by a question mark. Candidate has to select from the options choices to correct option in place of the question mark. The given sequences of numbers will be such that each number follows its predecessor in the same way, i.e., according to a particular pattern. Candidates are required to find out the correct ways in which the sequence is formed and there after find out the number to complete the series.

1. 30, 34, 43, 59, 84, 120,?

(1) 169

(2) 148

(3) 153            

(4) 176

(5) None of these

Solution: (1) The given pattern is:

+2², 3², +4², + 6², +7²

So, missing term is 169=120 +7²

2. 40, 54, 82, ?, 180 ,250         

(1) 142

(2) 124

(3) 136

(4) 163

(5) None of these

Solution: (2) The pattern is: +14, + 28, + 42, + 52, + 70

So, missing term is 82 + 42=124

Type II: Here, we are given a sequence of number. Whole sequence, except the odd number follow a certain rule. You have to find that number which does not follow the rule.

1. 0, 1,3,8,18,35,264

(1) 62

(2) 35

(3) 18

(4) 8

(5) None of these

Solution: (1) The pattern is +(0²+1), +(1²+1), + (2²+1) ,+ (3²+1), + (4²+1), + (5²+1)

So, 62 is wrong and must be replaced by 35 + (5²+1) = 62

2. 1, 9, 125, 49, 729, 121, 2147

(1) 2147

(2) 729

(3) 125

(4) 1

(5) None of these

Solution: (1)

Questions From Previous Year Papers

Directions: (1-5) In each of these questions a number series is given. In each series only one number is wrong. Find out the wrong number. (IBPS CWE PO/MT Exam 2012)

1. 5531   5506   5425   5304   5135   4910 4621

(1) 5531

(2) 5425

(3) 4621

(4) 5135

(5) 5506

Solution: The number should be 5555 in place of 5531.

-7², -9², -11², -13², -15², -17²...

Ans: (1) 

2.  6   7   9   13   26   37   69

(1) 7

(2) 26

(3) 69

(4) 37

(5) 9

Solution: The number should be 21 in place of 26.

+1, +2, +4, +8, +16, +32

Ans: (2)

3.  1   3   10   36   152   760   4632

(1) 3

(2) 36

(3) 4632

(4) 760

(5) 152

Solution: The number should be 770 In place of 760.

×1 +2, ×2 +4, ×3 +6, ×4 + 8, ×5 +10, ×6 + 12, ...

Ans: (4)

4.  4    3    9    34    96    219   435

(1) 4

(2) 9

(3) 34

(4) 435

(5) 219

Solution: The series is 0²+ 4, 1²+2, 3²+0, 6²-2, 10²-4, 15²- 6,21² - 8...

Hence, 435 should be replaced with 433

Ans: (1)

5.  157.5     45    15    6    3    2   1

(1) 1

(2) 2

(3) 6

(4) 157.5

(5) 45

Solution: The number should be 2 in place of 1.

3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1, ...

Ans: (1)

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