Missing number reasoning is a common topic in many competitive exams. It checks how well you can find patterns and solve number puzzles. In these questions, a number is missing in a series, and you have to figure out what it should be. The pattern may be based on addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or logic. These questions may look tricky, but with the right practice, they become easier to solve. Many exams like SSC, Bank, and Railways include this topic. In this article, you’ll learn easy methods and tips to solve missing number reasoning questions quickly and correct
Missing Number Reasoning Question For Practice
Q1. Find the missing number: 4, 9, 20, 43, ?
A) 88
B) 90
C) 94
D) 89
Answer: D) 89
Explanation: +5, +11, +23, +46 (doubles previous diff +1).
Q2. 5, 11, 24, 51, ?
A) 104
B) 106
C) 107
D) 108
Answer: C) 107
Explanation: ×2 +1, ×2 +2, ×2 +3, ×2 +4…
Q3. Find the missing number in the series: 3, 6, 18, 72, ?
A) 360
B) 288
C) 216
D) 144
Answer: B) 288
Explanation: ×2, ×3, ×4, ×5
Q4. 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, ?
A) 35
B) 37
C) 38
D) 39
Answer: A) 37
Explanation: +3, +5, +7, +9, +11
Q5. 1, 4, 10, 22, 46, ?
A) 92
B) 94
C) 96
D) 98
Answer: B) 94
Explanation: ×2 +2 pattern (1×2+2=4, 4×2+2=10, etc.)
Q6. 13, 16, 21, 28, 37, ?
A) 49
B) 50
C) 48
D) 47
Answer: D) 48
Explanation: +3, +5, +7, +9, +11
Q7. Find the missing number: 6, 11, 21, 36, ?
A) 56
B) 57
C) 58
D) 59
Answer: C) 58
Explanation: +5, +10, +15, +22
Q8. 1, 3, 7, 15, ?, 63
A) 24
B) 30
C) 31
D) 27
Answer: C) 31
Explanation: ×2 +1 pattern
Q9. 8, 24, 12, 36, 18, ?
A) 42
B) 44
C) 48
D) 54
Answer: D) 54
Explanation: Alternate ×3 pattern
Q10. 2, 3, 5, 9, 17, 33, ?
A) 65
B) 63
C) 66
D) 67
Answer: D) 65
Explanation: +1, +2, +4, +8, +16…
Q11. Find the missing number: 441, 400, 361, 324, ?
A) 289
B) 300
C) 301
D) 292
Answer: A) 289
Explanation: Perfect squares descending: 21², 20², 19²…
Q12. 9, 18, 36, 72, ?, 288
A) 108
B) 122
C) 144
D) 162
Answer: C) 144
Explanation: ×2 progression
Q13. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, ?
A) 20
B) 21
C) 22
D) 24
Answer: B) 21
Explanation: Fibonacci sequence
Q14. 14, 28, 20, 40, 32, ?
A) 64
B) 48
C) 52
D) 50
Answer: A) 64
Explanation: Alternate terms ×2 pattern
Q15. 6, 13, 27, 55, ?
A) 110
B) 111
C) 112
D) 113
Answer: A) 110
Explanation: ×2 +1 pattern
Q16. What comes next: 3, 6, 11, 18, 27, ?
A) 35
B) 36
C) 38
D) 40
Answer: B) 36
Explanation: +3, +5, +7, +9…
Q17. 100, 97, 91, 82, ?
A) 69
B) 70
C) 72
D) 74
Answer: A) 69
Explanation: -3, -6, -9, -13
Q18. 2, 12, 30, 56, ?, 132
A) 84
B) 86
C) 90
D) 96
Answer: A) 90
Explanation: n³ + n
Q19. 4, 9, 19, 39, 79, ?
A) 159
B) 149
C) 169
D) 189
Answer: A) 159
Explanation: ×2 -1 pattern
Q20. Find the missing number: 7, 10, 8, 11, 9, ?
A) 12
B) 13
C) 10
D) 14
Answer: A) 12
Explanation: Alternating pattern +3, -2
Q21. 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ?, 49
A) 36
B) 30
C) 40
D) 42
Answer: A) 36
Explanation: Perfect squares: 1², 2², 3²…
Q22. 3, 6, 12, 24, ?, 96
A) 36
B) 40
C) 48
D) 60
Answer: C) 48
Explanation: ×2 pattern
Q23. 10, 12, 15, 19, ?, 30
A) 22
B) 24
C) 26
D) 28
Answer: A) 22
Explanation: +2, +3, +4, +5…
Q24. 81, 64, 49, ?, 25
A) 36
B) 32
C) 30
D) 40
Answer: A) 36
Explanation: Perfect squares descending: 9², 8², 7²…
Q25. 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
A) 36
B) 40
C) 42
D) 44
Answer: B) 42
Explanation: Add 4, 6, 8, 10, 12…
Q26. 13, 17, 19, 23, ?, 31
A) 27
B) 25
C) 29
D) 33
Answer: C) 29
Explanation: All prime numbers.
Q27. 1, 2, 6, 24, 120, ?
A) 600
B) 720
C) 840
D) 960
Answer: B) 720
Explanation: Factorial series: 1!, 2!, 3!, …
Q28. 4, 18, 100, ?, 2550
A) 524
B) 552
C) 630
D) 625
Answer: D) 625
Explanation: Pattern involves × and + in alternation.
Q29. 50, 48, 45, 41, ?
A) 35
B) 36
C) 37
D) 38
Answer: C) 37
Explanation: -2, -3, -4, -5
Q30. 6, 10, 18, 34, ?
A) 46
B) 54
C) 66
D) 58
Answer: D) 58
Explanation: ×2 + 2, ×2 + 2, etc.
Q31. 1, 4, 13, 40, ?
A) 89
B) 120
C) 121
D) 121
Answer: C) 121
Explanation: ×3 + 1, ×3 + 1, …
Q32. 11, 22, 44, 88, ?
A) 132
B) 160
C) 176
D) 176
Answer: D) 176
Explanation: ×2 each time
Q33. 0, 6, 24, 60, 120, ?
A) 200
B) 210
C) 216
D) 240
Answer: B) 210
Explanation: n(n+1)(n+2)/6 pattern
Q34. 7, 14, 28, ?, 112
A) 56
B) 48
C) 60
D) 72
Answer: A) 56
Explanation: ×2 pattern
Q35. 21, 34, 55, 89, ?
A) 130
B) 144
C) 145
D) 150
Answer: C) 144
Explanation: Fibonacci variant
Q36. 1, 8, 27, ?, 125
A) 48
B) 60
C) 64
D) 81
Answer: C) 64
Explanation: Cubes: 1³, 2³, 3³…
Q37. 5, 6, 11, 17, 28, ?
A) 34
B) 38
C) 45
D) 46
Answer: D) 45
Explanation: +1, +5, +6, +11, +17…
Q38. 9, 17, 33, 65, ?
A) 121
B) 97
C) 129
D) 113
Answer: A) 121
Explanation: ×2 -1 pattern
Q39. 80, 40, 20, 10, ?
A) 2
B) 5
C) 8
D) 4
Answer: B) 5
Explanation: ÷2 pattern
Q40. 3, 6, 11, 18, 27, ?
A) 35
B) 36
C) 38
D) 39
Answer: B) 36
Explanation: +3, +5, +7, +9…
Q41. 2, 3, 6, 11, 18, ?
A) 27
B) 28
C) 29
D) 30
Answer: C) 29
Explanation: +1, +3, +5, +7, +9
Q42. 3, 12, 27, 48, ?, 108
A) 63
B) 75
C) 72
D) 81
Answer: C) 75
Explanation: n³ pattern or difference of cubes.
Q43. 0, 3, 8, 15, 24, ?
A) 33
B) 35
C) 36
D) 40
Answer: C) 35
Explanation: Add odd numbers: +3, +5, +7, +9…
Q44. 1, 2, 6, 24, ?, 720
A) 100
B) 120
C) 150
D) 180
Answer: B) 120
Explanation: Factorials: 1!, 2!, 3!, 4!, 5!
Q45. 5, 11, 17, 23, ?, 35
A) 26
B) 27
C) 29
D) 30
Answer: C) 29
Explanation: +6 each step
Q46. 100, 97, 93, 88, ?
A) 84
B) 82
C) 80
D) 78
Answer: B) 82
Explanation: -3, -4, -5, -6…
Q47. 64, 32, 16, ?, 4
A) 10
B) 12
C) 8
D) 6
Answer: C) 8
Explanation: ÷2 pattern
Q48. 11, 22, 33, ?, 55
A) 42
B) 44
C) 45
D) 48
Answer: B) 44
Explanation: +11 each step
Q49. 3, 7, 15, 31, ?, 127
A) 55
B) 63
C) 65
D) 62
Answer: C) 63
Explanation: ×2 +1 pattern
Q50. 1, 4, 10, 22, 46, ?
A) 92
B) 94
C) 96
D) 98
Answer: B) 94
Explanation: Doubled and added sequence
Q51. 121, 144, 169, ?
A) 184
B) 196
C) 200
D) 212
Answer: B) 196
Explanation: Perfect squares: 11², 12², 13²…
Q52. 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, ?
A) 19
B) 20
C) 21
D) 22
Answer: C) 21
Explanation: Triangular numbers
Q53. 6, 11, 21, 36, ?
A) 56
B) 58
C) 60
D) 62
Answer: B) 58
Explanation: Add +5, +10, +15…
Q54. 2, 3, 5, 9, 17, ?
A) 31
B) 32
C) 33
D) 35
Answer: A) 33
Explanation: Add increasing powers of 2
Q55. 2, 10, 30, 68, ?
A) 120
B) 130
C) 140
D) 150
Answer: A) 120
Explanation: Pattern of n³ + 2
Q56. 1, 5, 14, 30, 55, ?
A) 80
B) 85
C) 91
D) 100
Answer: C) 91
Explanation: Add +4, +9, +16… (squares)
Q57. 90, 80, 70, 60, ?
A) 45
B) 40
C) 50
D) 30
Answer: C) 50
Explanation: -10 pattern
Q58. 5, 15, 45, ?, 405
A) 100
B) 115
C) 135
D) 150
Answer: C) 135
Explanation: ×3 pattern
Q59. 200, 100, 50, ?, 12.5
A) 30
B) 25
C) 20
D) 35
Answer: B) 25
Explanation: ÷2 pattern
Q60. 7, 13, 25, 49, ?
A) 97
B) 98
C) 99
D) 100
Answer: A) 97
Explanation: ×2 -1 pattern
Q61. 19, 28, 37, ?, 55
A) 44
B) 45
C) 46
D) 47
Answer: C) 46
Explanation: +9 pattern
Q62. 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, ?
A) 6
B) 7
C) 8
D) 9
Answer: C) 8
Explanation: Fibonacci series
Q63. 6, 13, 27, 55, ?
A) 100
B) 110
C) 105
D) 108
Answer: B) 110
Explanation: ×2 + 1 pattern
Q64. 3, 6, 18, 72, ?
A) 144
B) 288
C) 216
D) 360
Answer: B) 288
Explanation: ×2, ×3, ×4, ×5…
Q65. 45, 40, 35, ?, 25
A) 30
B) 28
C) 26
D) 24
Answer: A) 30
Explanation: -5 pattern
Q66. 10, 12, 15, 19, 24, ?
A) 28
B) 30
C) 31
D) 33
Answer: C) 30
Explanation: +2, +3, +4, +5, +6
Q67. 1, 8, 27, 64, ?
A) 100
B) 125
C) 150
D) 175
Answer: B) 125
Explanation: Cubes: 1³, 2³, 3³, 4³, 5³
Q68. 4, 6, 9, 13, ?
A) 17
B) 18
C) 19
D) 20
Answer: A) 18
Explanation: +2, +3, +4, +5…
Q69. 20, 25, 30, 35, ?, 45
A) 38
B) 40
C) 42
D) 44
Answer: B) 40
Explanation: +5 pattern
Q70. 3, 9, 27, ?, 243
A) 54
B) 60
C) 72
D) 81
Answer: D) 81
Explanation: ×3 pattern
Q71. 81, 72, 63, ?, 45
A) 56
B) 54
C) 51
D) 48
Answer: C) 54
Explanation: -9 each step
Q72. 14, 28, 56, 112, ?
A) 180
B) 200
C) 224
D) 240
Answer: C) 224
Explanation: ×2 pattern
Q73. 10, 20, 30, 50, ?
A) 70
B) 80
C) 90
D) 100
Answer: A) 70
Explanation: Add 10, 10, 20, 20…
Q74. 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, ?
A) 24
B) 28
C) 32
D) 36
Answer: C) 32
Explanation: ×2 pattern
Q75. 6, 11, 21, 36, ?, 78
A) 55
B) 56
C) 57
D) 58
Answer: D) 58
Explanation: +5, +10, +15, +22…
Q76. 50, 100, 200, ?, 800
A) 300
B) 350
C) 400
D) 450
Answer: C) 400
Explanation: ×2 pattern
Q77. 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, ?
A) 21
B) 22
C) 23
D) 24
Answer: A) 21
Explanation: Add +2, +3, +4, +5, +6…
Q78. 100, 200, 400, 800, ?
A) 1000
B) 1200
C) 1500
D) 1600
Answer: D) 1600
Explanation: ×2 pattern
Q79. 121, 144, 169, ?, 225
A) 196
B) 200
C) 210
D) 216
Answer: A) 196
Explanation: Perfect squares
Q80. 5, 15, 30, 50, ?
A) 70
B) 75
C) 85
D) 90
Answer: C) 85
Explanation: +10, +15, +20, +25…
Wrapping Up
Solving a missing number reasoning question becomes easier with regular practice and a clear understanding of patterns. These questions may look tricky at first, but once you learn how to spot number sequences and logical steps, they become simple and quick to solve. Whether it’s an arithmetic progression or a logical puzzle, staying calm and thinking clearly is the key. Make sure to practice different types of problems to build your speed and confidence. In competitive exams, even one correct missing number reasoning question can help boost your score. Keep practicing and you’ll see improvement in no time.
