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Question

Select the number from the given options that can replace the (?) in the following alphanumeric series.

Q, 18, S, 16, U, 13, W, ?

This question was previously asked in
RRB NTPC 2019 CBT 1 Question Paper (8-Mar-2021) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is
9

Alphanumeric Series Pattern Analysis

The given series is an alphanumeric sequence: Q, 18, S, 16, U, 13, W, ?

This series alternates between letters and numbers. We need to identify the pattern for both.

Letter Sequence Progression

Let's examine the letters:

  • Q is the 17th letter of the alphabet.
  • S is the 19th letter. (Q + 2 positions)
  • U is the 21st letter. (S + 2 positions)
  • W is the 23rd letter. (U + 2 positions)

The pattern for letters is consistent: add 2 to the position of the previous letter (skip one letter in between).

Number Sequence Progression

Now let's examine the numbers:

  • The first number is 18.
  • The second number is 16. (18 - 2)
  • The third number is 13. (16 - 3)

The pattern for numbers involves subtracting an increasing sequence. The subtractions are -2, -3. The next logical subtraction in this sequence would be -4.

Calculating the Missing Number

Following the number pattern, the next step is to subtract 4 from the last number (13).

Calculation: $13 - 4 = 9$

Therefore, the number that replaces the '?' is 9.

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Similar Questions

  1. Select the alphanumeric-cluster from among the given options that can replace the question mark (?) in the given series.
    G7H, I9J, K11L, ?
  2. A series is given with one term missing. Select the correct alternative from the given options that will complete the series. 

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  10. Select the alphanumeric-cluster that can replace the question mark (?) in the following series.

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Important Questions from Alpha-numeric series

  1. Consider the following sequence of numbers: 5 1 4 7 3 9 8 5 7 2 6 3 1 5 8 6 3 8 5 2 2 4 3 4 9 6 How many odd numbers are followed by the odd number in the above sequence?

  2. Which one set of letters when sequentially placed at the gaps in the given letter series shall complete it? _sr_tr_srs_r_srst_

  3. Find the missing number in the following series: 43, 172, 86, 344, ?

  4. Select the missing numbers from the given alternatives

  5. How many such pairs of letters are there in the word JOURNEY (in forward direction), each of which has as many letter in the same sequence between them in the word as in the English alphabet?

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