How to find a missing number in a sequence
- Determine if the order of numbers is ascending (getting larger in value) or descending (becoming smaller
- Find the difference between numbers that are next to each other.
- Use the difference between numbers to find the missing number.
Example: Find the missing number: 15, 13, ?, 9
- The order of numbers is going down or descending.
- The difference between numbers is 15 - 13 = 2
- Since the order is descending subtract 2 from 13. The missing number may be 11.
- The missing number is 11 since it is 2 more than the last number 9.