Multiple choice

Find the missing term in the following number series. $5, 3, 21, ?, 36027$

  1. 32

  2. 42

  3. 120

  4. 563

  5. 55
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The pattern is: term[n] = term[n-1] × n³ - (n+1), where n starts at 1. Verifying: 3=5×1³-2=3, 21=3×2³-3=21, 563=21×3³-4=567-4=563, and 36027=563×4³-5=36032-5=36027. The missing term is 563. Option A (32) would require 32=21×3³-?, which gives ?=565, not 4.

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