Algebra 1 : How to find the missing number in a set

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra 1

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Missing Number In A Set

The sum of three consecutive even integers equals 72. What is the product of these integers?

Possible Answers:

12144

13800

17472

10560

13728

Correct answer:

13728

Explanation:

Let us call x the smallest integer. Because the next two numbers are consecutive even integers, we can call represent them as x + 2 and x + 4. We are told the sum of x, x+2, and x+4 is equal to 72. 

x + (x + 2) + (x + 4) = 72

3x + 6 = 72

3x = 66

x = 22.

This means that the integers are 22, 24, and 26. The question asks us for the product of these numbers, which is 22(24)(26) = 13728. 

The answer is 13728.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Missing Number In A Set

\displaystyle 2, 6, 18, n, 162...

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 52

\displaystyle 54

\displaystyle 36

\displaystyle 24

\displaystyle 90

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 54

Explanation:

\displaystyle 18\ast3=54

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Missing Number In A Set

If the mean of the following set is 12, what is \displaystyle x?

(1,14,3,15,16,\displaystyle x,21,10)

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 12

\displaystyle 15

\displaystyle 13

\displaystyle 14

\displaystyle 16

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 16

Explanation:

Since we are given the mean, we need to find the sum of the numbers. From there we can figure out \displaystyle x. We know

\displaystyle \text{mean}= \frac{\text{sum of observations}}{\text{number of observations}}  

We can use this to find the sum by plugging in 

\displaystyle 12=\frac{\text{Total Sum}}{8}

So our sum is 96.

So we know that our total sum minus the sum of the given numbers is equal to \displaystyle x

So, \displaystyle 96-(1+14+3+15+16+21+10) = x = 96-80 =16.

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Missing Number In A Set

There are 5 men and 4 women competing for an executive body consisting of :

  1. President
  2. Vice President
  3. Secretary
  4. Treasurer

It is required that 2 women and 2 men must be selected

How many ways the executive body can be formed?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 120

\displaystyle 180

\displaystyle 60

\displaystyle 240

\displaystyle 1440

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 1440

Explanation:

2 men can be selected:

2 women can be selected out of 4 women:

Finally, after the selection process, these men and women can fill the executive body in \displaystyle 4!=24 ways.

This gives us a total of \displaystyle 10\times 6\times 24 = 1440

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Missing Number In A Set

Which number is needed to complete the following sequence:

1,5,_,13,17

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 9

\displaystyle 11

\displaystyle 10

\displaystyle 8

\displaystyle 7

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 9

Explanation:

This is a sequence that features every other positive, odd integers.  The missing number in this case is 9.  

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Missing Number In A Set

Find the missing number:

\displaystyle 7,-,33,46,59,72

 

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 20

\displaystyle 12

\displaystyle 44

\displaystyle 10

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 20

Explanation:

Find the missing number:

\displaystyle 7,-,33,46,59,72

To find the missing number, we need to find the pattern.

If we look closely, our numbers are going up by the same number each time: 13

To check this, find the difference between neighboring numbers

\displaystyle 46-33=13

\displaystyle 59-46=13

You get the idea.

So, to find the missing number, simply do the following:

\displaystyle 7+13=20

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Missing Number In A Set

Find n in the following sequence:

\displaystyle (6,12,15,30,33,66,n,138)

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 100

\displaystyle 135

\displaystyle 69

\displaystyle 84

\displaystyle 112

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 69

Explanation:

You need to evaluate the terms in the sequence to determine the pattern that is shown. In this case, the first term is multiplied by 2 and the second term is found by adding 3.

\displaystyle 6\times2=12

\displaystyle 12+3=15

\displaystyle 15\times2=30

\displaystyle 30+3=33

\displaystyle 33\times2=66

\displaystyle 66+3=n

\displaystyle n\times2=138

 

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Missing Number In A Set

The first four numbers in the following set are parabolic:  \displaystyle [4,1,0,1,?,?].  What must the missing numbers, respectively?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 4,12

\displaystyle 4,16

\displaystyle 4,9

\displaystyle 4,6

\displaystyle 4,8

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 4,9

Explanation:

Notice that the world parabolic is given.  This means that our parent function will be in the form:   \displaystyle y=ax^2+bx+c

The terms resemble a pattern where the parent function \displaystyle y=x^2 is centered at \displaystyle (0,0), and the first term starts at \displaystyle x=-2 and so forth.

We can find the two missing terms by substituting \displaystyle x=2,3 to determine the missing numbers.

The first number is:

\displaystyle y=2^2=4

The second number is:  

\displaystyle y=3^2=9

The respective numbers are:  \displaystyle 4,9

Example Question #5 : How To Find The Missing Number In A Set

Find the missing numbers in the set of numbers:   \displaystyle [?,-3,1,?,9]

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle -1, 7

\displaystyle -5,3

\displaystyle -5,7

\displaystyle -7,5

\displaystyle -6,6

Correct answer:

\displaystyle -7,5

Explanation:

Notice that the second and third terms in the set of numbers can be subtracted to determine the displacement of each number in the set.

Subtract negative three from one.  Enclose the negative number with parentheses.

\displaystyle 1-(-3)=4

Each number is spaced four units.

Subtract four from negative three to find the first number.

\displaystyle -3-4 = -7

Add four to one to find the number for the second question mark.

\displaystyle 1+4=5

This number is also four units from nine.

The answer is:  \displaystyle -7,5

Example Question #6 : How To Find The Missing Number In A Set

Find the missing numbers, respectively:   \displaystyle [?,\frac{1}{4}, \frac{1}{5}, \frac{3}{20}, ?,....]

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle \frac{3}{10} , \frac{1}{10}

\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}, \frac{1}{10}

\displaystyle \frac{7}{20},\frac{1}{20}

\displaystyle \frac{1}{10} , \frac{3}{10}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle \frac{3}{10} , \frac{1}{10}

Explanation:

Determine the distance between each number.

\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{5} = \frac{5}{20}-\frac{4}{20}= \frac{1}{20}

The second and the third number are spaced \displaystyle \frac{1}{20} units.

Check the third and fourth number if this is also has the same displacement.

\displaystyle \frac{1}{5}- \frac{3}{20} = \frac{4}{20}- \frac{3}{20}=\frac{1}{20}

Since this is true, this means that the numbers are also spaced at \displaystyle \frac{1}{20} units.

Notice the fractions are in decreasing order.

Add \displaystyle \frac{1}{20} units to the second term to obtain the first term.

\displaystyle \frac{1}{20}+\frac{1}{4} = \frac{1}{20}+\frac{5}{20} = \frac{6}{20}

Reduce this fraction.

The first term is:  \displaystyle \frac{3}{10}

Subtract \displaystyle \frac{1}{20} units from \displaystyle \frac{3}{20} to obtain the fifth term.

\displaystyle \frac{3}{20}- \frac{1}{20} = \frac{2}{20}

Reduce this fraction.

The fifth term is:  \displaystyle \frac{1}{10}

The correct answer is:  \displaystyle \frac{3}{10} , \frac{1}{10}

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