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#1 2006-02-27 20:25:41

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,841

Sequence

What is the next letter in this sequence?

A  B  H  F  M  C  I  G  T  D  O  J  U  ?


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#2 2006-02-27 20:30:22

jU
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Registered: 2005-08-17
Posts: 1,923

Re: Sequence

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#3 2006-02-27 20:30:37

krassi_holmz
Real Member
Registered: 2005-12-02
Posts: 1,905

Re: Sequence

K?
smile


IPBLE:  Increasing Performance By Lowering Expectations.

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#4 2006-02-27 20:31:58

jU
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Registered: 2005-08-17
Posts: 1,923

Re: Sequence

read my post

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#5 2006-02-28 17:53:45

rimi
Member
Registered: 2006-02-21
Posts: 17

Re: Sequence

E?

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#6 2006-02-28 18:32:39

Jai Ganesh
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Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,841

Re: Sequence

Well done, rimi! It is E. You get an award for this.

Carnute%20Outstanding%20Crew%20-%20Men.JPG

Can you tell the reason why the next letter in the sequence is E?


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#7 2006-03-01 20:50:18

jU
Real Member
Registered: 2005-08-17
Posts: 1,923

Re: Sequence

I have the answer it is $E

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#8 2006-03-01 22:35:30

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,841

Re: Sequence

rimi, jU,

Please justify your answer.


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#9 2006-03-02 06:32:52

ashwil
Member
Registered: 2006-02-27
Posts: 121

Re: Sequence

Looks like it was a lucky guess prompted by the apparent relative positioning of B, C, D! What about it, guys?

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#10 2006-03-02 08:37:02

Patrick
Real Member
Registered: 2006-02-24
Posts: 1,005

Re: Sequence

I have to admit I don't get the sequence


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#11 2006-03-02 09:48:32

ashwil
Member
Registered: 2006-02-27
Posts: 121

Re: Sequence

The letter after E would be X

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#12 2006-03-02 16:56:28

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,841

Re: Sequence

Excellent, ashwil!


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#13 2006-03-02 23:30:36

ashwil
Member
Registered: 2006-02-27
Posts: 121

Re: Sequence

Alas, it is more a tribute to memory than to puzzle-solving ability. I just had a flash of inspiration and remembered my maths teacher from 1978 who had a fascination for this kind of puzzle. He had set us a very similar teaser that took us weeks to crack (and with more than one or two clues!).

Is it time to give a clue on this one? I must say, the logic is one of the more obcure relationships.

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#14 2006-03-03 06:26:25

Patrick
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Registered: 2006-02-24
Posts: 1,005

Re: Sequence

I'd like a  clue smile


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#15 2006-03-03 08:08:17

ashwil
Member
Registered: 2006-02-27
Posts: 121

Re: Sequence

A clue of sorts:

In solving letter sequences, there are usually 3 basic questions to ask:

1. Is there a mathematical progression? (eg, move 4 letters through the alphabet, then back two etc)
2. Is there a sequence based on initial letters of something occurring in general life, not mathematics? (MTWTFSS, OTTFFSS, JFMAMJJ)
3. Is there an intrinsic quality to the letters themselves that has nothing to do with the above?

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#16 2006-03-03 08:39:26

Patrick
Real Member
Registered: 2006-02-24
Posts: 1,005

Re: Sequence

not sure I understand the 2. 'question'..


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#17 2006-03-03 08:48:32

ashwil
Member
Registered: 2006-02-27
Posts: 121

Re: Sequence

OK, the first of the examples refers to Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday etc. I.e., these examples are not mathematical, but rely on lateral thought to make a conection with a sequence that is "familiar" in its normally occurring form. These 3 examples are the ones you would see most often, but sometimes you may get something really obscure like HHLBBC... (the periodic table of the elements: Hydrogen, Helium etc)

I suggest you focus on the 3rd category!

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#18 2006-03-03 08:55:26

Patrick
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Registered: 2006-02-24
Posts: 1,005

Re: Sequence

I get it now smile.. Thx


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#19 2006-03-06 17:18:52

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,841

Re: Sequence

Another sequnce, this time a simpler one! tongue

Where should the number 10 be placed to continue the sequence?

8   5   4   9   1   7   6   3   2


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#20 2006-03-07 04:30:04

mathsyperson
Moderator
Registered: 2005-06-22
Posts: 4,900

Re: Sequence

.                               ^


Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

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#21 2006-03-07 04:38:34

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,841

Re: Sequence

mathsyperson is correct, can someone other than him tell why 10 should be placed there?


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

Online

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