If a number in a numeric sequence is 17 and the second number is 3, what is the first number?
I hesitated to add this because it’s poorly worded, ambiguous and the answer could be almost anything. I prefer teasers with a single answer, but there you go.
If you came up with a different answer and can explain how you did it, don’t think you’re wrong. It’s probably just as valid. Feel free to share yours in the comments.
My answer for the first number is 2.
Here’s how I got it.
The generic rule for a number in the sequence is: 2^(n – 1) + 1, where n is the position in the sequence.
Note: The teaser doesn’t specify the position of 17. In this case, it’s fifth.
Position 1: (so n = 1) is 2^(1 – 1) + 1 = 2
Position 2: 2^(2 – 1) + 1 = 3
Position 3: 2^(3 – 1) + 1 = 5
Position 4: 2^(4 – 1) + 1 = 9
Position 5: 2^(5 – 1) + 1 = 17
For the curious, the next 5 numbers of the sequence would be:
Position 6: 2^(6 – 1) + 1 = 33
Position 7: 2^(7 – 1) + 1 = 65
Position 8: 2^(8 – 1) + 1 = 129
Position 9: 2^(9 – 1) + 1 = 257
Position 10: 2^(10 – 1) + 1 = 513
I hesitated to add this because it’s poorly worded, ambiguous and the answer could be almost anything. I prefer teasers with a single answer, but there you go.
If you came up with a different answer and can explain how you did it, don’t think you’re wrong. It’s probably just as valid. Feel free to share yours in the comments.
My answer for the first number is 2.
Here’s how I got it.
The generic rule for a number in the sequence is: 2^(n – 1) + 1, where n is the position in the sequence.
Note: The teaser doesn’t specify the position of 17. In this case, it’s fifth.
Position 1: (so n = 1) is 2^(1 – 1) + 1 = 2
Position 2: 2^(2 – 1) + 1 = 3
Position 3: 2^(3 – 1) + 1 = 5
Position 4: 2^(4 – 1) + 1 = 9
Position 5: 2^(5 – 1) + 1 = 17
For the curious, the next 5 numbers of the sequence would be:
Position 6: 2^(6 – 1) + 1 = 33
Position 7: 2^(7 – 1) + 1 = 65
Position 8: 2^(8 – 1) + 1 = 129
Position 9: 2^(9 – 1) + 1 = 257
Position 10: 2^(10 – 1) + 1 = 513
What word can be made from three letters of beach and another three from vogue?
Gauche. The letters “ach” from beach and “gue” from vogue.
Gauche. The letters “ach” from beach and “gue” from vogue.
My first three is another name for the Hindu god Shiva.
What am I?
Harvest.
Har is another name for Shiva.
Harvest.
Har is another name for Shiva.
The Barber of Seville shaves all men living in Seville.
Who shaves the Barber of Seville?
Nobody. The Barber of Seville is a woman. Female barbers are rare, but they exist .
And for more fun with barbers, check out the Barber paradox .
Nobody. The Barber of Seville is a woman. Female barbers are rare, but they exist .
And for more fun with barbers, check out the Barber paradox .
What is three-eighths tortoise, two-fifths onion and two-sixths tomato?
Toronto
3/8 tortoise = TOR (the first three letters)
Toronto
3/8 tortoise = TOR (the first three letters)
A box without hinges, key or lid,
What is it?
An egg.
(From J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit)
An egg.
(From J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit)
If you throw me from the window,
What am I?
The answer is the letter ‘n’. Taking ‘n’ out of window makes widow. And putting ‘n’ back into door makes donor.
The answer is the letter ‘n’. Taking ‘n’ out of window makes widow. And putting ‘n’ back into door makes donor.
1 is 3,
What is 6? And what is meant by cosmic?
6 is 3 of course. Because six has three letters.
One = three letters
Cosmic is a number that has the same number of letters as the value. Four is the only number I’m aware of that has this property.
6 is 3 of course. Because six has three letters.
One = three letters
Cosmic is a number that has the same number of letters as the value. Four is the only number I’m aware of that has this property.
Some form a parliament,
What are we?
Birds. These are collective nouns for groups of birds.
Birds. These are collective nouns for groups of birds.
What goes in the water red
Iron