03 Aug 04
3 edits
Originally posted by psychopath42That's correct! The rule is the sequence of integral squares represented in base 8.
it is?
😕
so it's not squares represented in base 8? that was my guess...
Here is the sequence followed by the same sequence in decimal:
1 4 11 20 31 44 61 80 121 144 171 220 ???
1 4 09 16 25 36 49 64 081 100 121 144 ???
The next decimal number in the sequence is obviously 169. This number is represented in base 8 as 251.
Good work on figuring out the rule! I made a mistake when I stated that your response was incorrect.
-Ray.
03 Aug 04
Some of us are very skilled in calculating polynomials...I wouldn't be surprised if there actually are people who can calculate them fast enough for an IQ test.
If I would start the sequence 3, 5, 7, ...
anyone claiming any skills in maths would have two possible answers ready. Same thing goes for the sequence 1, 2, 4, ...
These examples are easy to understand, perhaps now everyone will be convinced of the doubts to be placed with IQ tests, for if this works with simple number sequences, imagine what horrors await with picture sequences...
03 Aug 04
Originally posted by TheMaster37Don't forget that most of the spatial questions have multiple choices. There is only one selection that continues the sequence in a logical manner. The remaining selections defying logical scrutiny.
These examples are easy to understand, perhaps now everyone will be convinced of the doubts to be placed with IQ tests, for if this works with simple number sequences, imagine what horrors await with picture sequences...
-Ray.
26 Aug 04
Originally posted by rgoudiepsycopath42 was correct. The 80 should have been 100 - you can't have an 8 in base 8 numerology....
That's correct! The rule is the sequence of integral squares represented in base 8.
Here is the sequence followed by the same sequence in decimal:
1 4 11 20 31 44 61 80 121 144 171 220 ???
1 4 09 16 25 36 49 64 081 100 121 144 ???
The next decimal number in the sequence is obviously 169. This number is represented in base 8 as 251.
Good work ...[text shortened]... uring out the rule! I made a mistake when I stated that your response was incorrect.
-Ray.
26 Aug 04
Originally posted by TheMaster37I agree. From a mathematical POV, 'what comes next' problems almost invariably provide insufficient information. For example, if I gave you '1,2,3,?' and didn't exclude the possibility of cubics, you could choose a cubic to justify any value of the fourth term. Only if I insist on a polynomial of degree <3, or other similarly restrictive conditions, can you confidently reply '4'.
Some of us are very skilled in calculating polynomials...I wouldn't be surprised if there actually are people who can calculate them fast enough for an IQ test.
If I would start the sequence 3, 5, 7, ...
anyone claiming any skills in maths would have two possible answers ready. Same thing goes for the sequence 1, 2, 4, ...
These examples are e ...[text shortened]... if this works with simple number sequences, imagine what horrors await with picture sequences...
'What comes next' problems are actually one of the simplest examples of a 'mathematical empathy' test. The reason most people can solve them is that they have an implicit understanding that a relatively 'simple' answer is required, and must decide, among the various possibilities, which the question-setter would have thought of first. They probably require similar mental skills to the famous 'analogy' test: 'X is to Y as Z is to...', with arithmetic replacing an understanding of words. This doesn't make them invalid as IQ tests, but it means that they're testing slightly different skills than one might think.