Find the pattern in each number sequence and determine the next number. 10 questions of increasing difficulty.
Number sequence tests measure inductive reasoning - the ability to identify patterns, rules, and relationships from specific examples and apply them to predict future values. This cognitive ability is a key component of fluid intelligence and is heavily weighted in most standardized IQ tests. Unlike knowledge-based tasks, number sequence problems require you to discover underlying rules without explicit instruction.
Common sequence types include arithmetic progressions (constant addition), geometric progressions (constant multiplication), polynomial sequences (changing differences), and recursive sequences like the Fibonacci series. More challenging sequences may combine multiple rules or require recognizing well-known mathematical series such as prime numbers, triangular numbers, or powers.
Numerical reasoning tasks appear on virtually every major intelligence test, including the WAIS-IV, Stanford-Binet, and various aptitude tests used in educational and employment settings. The ability to work with number patterns taps into multiple cognitive processes: working memory (holding the sequence in mind), pattern detection (identifying the rule), and hypothesis testing (verifying the rule against all elements).
Research shows that numerical reasoning ability is moderately heritable but also responsive to education and practice. Exposure to mathematics naturally strengthens number sense and pattern recognition. However, the abstract reasoning component - identifying the underlying rule - reflects fluid intelligence that is relatively stable across different levels of mathematical training.
Number sequence tests present a series of numbers that follow a hidden rule or pattern. You must identify the pattern and determine the next number in the sequence. They are commonly used in IQ tests and aptitude assessments to measure numerical reasoning and pattern recognition abilities.
Common types include arithmetic sequences (constant difference), geometric sequences (constant ratio), Fibonacci-like sequences (sum of previous terms), square/cube number sequences, alternating sequences, and sequences with changing differences. More difficult tests combine multiple rules.
Number sequence tests measure inductive reasoning - the ability to identify rules and patterns from specific examples. This is a core component of fluid intelligence. Performance on these tests correlates moderately to strongly (r = 0.5-0.7) with overall IQ scores.