Q: Look at this series: 8, 43, 11, 41, __, 39, 17, ... What number should fill in the blank?
Options:
(A) 8
(B) 14
(C) 43
(D) 44
(E) 9 Let's give some random thoughts before answering.
Answer: Option B
This is a simple alternating addition and subtraction series. The first series begins with 8 and adds 3; the second begins with 43 and subtracts 2.
Therefore, the answer is (B).