"Simple" Math Problem

[Wulfgang]

Preface: My boss' emailed all the analysts in my firm today with a math problem his third grade kid came to him with last night that he could not figure out; one workday later with an additional 15 people looking at it...we still can't figure it out. I work at an investment bank (not BS...or Lehman...or ML) and I would like to believe that we are all reasonably intelligent. Keep in mind, the answer should be something that a third grade student could feasibly find.

Problem

Please find the next number in the series:

57
134
___


A) 36
B) 39
C) 140
D) 153

[aurik]

Seems likely that there's an error in the problem, because none of the answers fit any pattern I can see.

I think it should be 331 because:
57 = 3 * 19
134 = 2 * 67 ... 67 is the 19th prime number
331 = 1 * 331 ... 331 is the 67th prime number

The 4th term is 0 and the 5th term is really negative

[Azkarin2]

wow... How did you see that pattern? It's been awhile since I counted prime numbers.

[LD]

What aurik said, are you sure he or his son wrote it down right?

[Wulfgang]

This was the answer I just wrote my boss in an email:

"My answer is that it is a misprint; either that or the [my firm's] training program should include a recap of third grade…"

And Aurik, I hope you work at NASA or are finding the cure for cancer because otherwise your talents are wasted.

[The_OG_Nelta]

From what I heard, Aurik is trying to build a time machine for some odd reason.

[Seraphise]

57
134

I went a bit simpler,

3+4 = 7
1+4 = 5

140

1+0 = 1
4+0 = 4

57
134
140
last 2 numbers make up the last number of the number above it, (4+0)= 4
the first and last number makes up the first number of the one above, (1+0)= 1

[Senoska]

Its kind of hard to find a pattern when only two examples are given because there are a ton of ways to get the answer to this.

[Seraphise]

Its kind of hard to find a pattern when only two examples are given because there are a ton of ways to get the answer to this.

Yeah, but through guessing and testing answers very hard to find multiple patterns that can fit multiple answers.

[aurik]

Its kind of hard to find a pattern when only two examples are given because there are a ton of ways to get the answer to this.

Agreed. Should have given at least 1 extra example.

(Although if the 3rd number was 331, nobody would guess 0 for the 4th lmao)

[Correction]

The answer is that this is more of a personality test than a test of your mathematical ability.

[Draggy]

What level is third grade? i think there must be a mistalke it seems way too complicated lol >.>

[Eaglestrike]

57
134

I went a bit simpler,

3+4 = 7
1+4 = 5

140

1+0 = 1
4+0 = 4

57
134
140
last 2 numbers make up the last number of the number above it, (4+0)= 4
the first and last number makes up the first number of the one above, (1+0)= 1

I can sorta see where you're going with this.

I'd just say:
5+7 = 12
1+3+4 = 8
1+4+0 = 4

And then the 4th number would be 0.

But I'd say there isn't enough information given in the problem. 2 numbers don't make a pattern, pretty sure you need 3 for that.

[Scythiroth]

1+4+0=5

[Senoska]

This has me really angry... I enjoy doing things like this but yea, no. Two examples does not equal a pattern. Someone post more of these, they are fun.

[Wulfgang]

What level is third grade?

Typically for ~8 year old children.

This has me really angry... I enjoy doing things like this but yea, no. Two examples does not equal a pattern. Someone post more of these, they are fun.

I also enjoy problems of this nature, I am almost about to have a konipshit because of this. I noticed your procrastination thread, I imagine this isn't helping.

Hopefully will get some sort of an "answer" by tomorrow, misprint or otherwise.

[Kiarax]

What level is third grade? i think there must be a mistalke it seems way too complicated lol >.>

Year 4 in UK. Third grade is ages 8-9.

[Seraphise]

I think my pattern is the only one that actually works with the given numbers, but that is still a rediculous pattern to expect 3rd graders to pick up. I only recognized it because I was using FOIL earlier and saw the 4+3 :<

[MisterBob]

The question isn't complicated, it's just incomplete, unless (as was said earlier) its actually a personality test. With enough playing around you can likely select any of the multiple choices.

[Drex]

153, no closed loops in the numbers. All 3 other options have a closed off loop in the numbers (6, 9, 0)

I've heard this somewhere before and had to be told, it's stupid

A 1st grader can figure it out more easily because they aren't trying to make a pattern out of the numbers, they read the numbers as pictures and find the picture that looks the most like the others...in theory. I think it's BS but hey, whatever.