Series puzzle: 2, 4, 12, 48, ?

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Crack the Code! Solving the Number Puzzle: 2, 4, 12, 48, ?

Ever stumbled upon a number puzzle that seemed simple at first glance, but then left you scratching your head? Let's tackle one together! Today, we're going to crack the code of a classic number series. Ready to test your brainpower?

The puzzle we're focusing on is this sequence: 2, 4, 12, 48, ? Our goal is to figure out the number that comes next.

Number puzzles like this are fun ways to sharpen your mind. They encourage you to think logically and see patterns that might not be immediately obvious. Let's dive in and see if we can unlock the secret of this series!

Deconstructing the Puzzle: Unveiling the Pattern

A. Observing the Differences (Initial Approach)

When you first see a number series, a good starting point is often to look at the differences between the numbers. Let's see what happens here.

• The difference between 4 and 2 is 2.
• The difference between 12 and 4 is 8.
• The difference between 48 and 12 is 36.

Hmm, the differences (2, 8, 36) aren't consistent. This means we can't just add or subtract the same number each time to get the next number in the series. We need to dig a little deeper!

B. Discovering the Underlying Multiplication Rule

Since simple addition and subtraction don't work, let's try another approach. Let's see if there's a multiplication pattern hidden within the numbers.

Take a closer look at how each number relates to the one before it. Notice anything?

• 2 multiplied by 2 equals 4 (2 * 2 = 4).
• 4 multiplied by 3 equals 12 (4 * 3 = 12).
• 12 multiplied by 4 equals 48 (12 * 4 = 48).

Aha! It looks like each number is the result of multiplying the previous number by an increasing integer. We're onto something!

Solving the Puzzle: Finding the Missing Number

A. Applying the Pattern to Find the Solution

Now that we've identified the pattern, let's use it to solve for the missing number.

Following the pattern, we need to multiply the last number (48) by the next increasing integer, which is 5.

So, the calculation is: 48 * 5 = ?

48 * 5 = 240

The missing number is 240!

B. Verifying the Solution and the Series

Let's write out the complete series to confirm our solution:

2, 4, 12, 48, 240

Does it all make sense? Check the pattern to see if the numbers follow the multiplication rule we found.

Conclusion

We did it! We successfully solved the number series puzzle: 2, 4, 12, 48, ? and found that the next number is 240.

By identifying the pattern of multiplying by consecutive integers, we were able to unlock the secret of this sequence.

Number puzzles are excellent for exercising your brain and developing your problem-solving skills. They teach you to look for patterns and think critically.

Want to try another puzzle? Share your thoughts and experiences with number puzzles in the comments below! What other number series have you encountered?

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