Question

In each of the questions below, one term in the given number series is wrong. Find out the wrong term.
8, 14, 26, 48, 98, 194, 386

• A. 14
• B. 48
• C. 98
• D. 194

Hint:

Check if each term follows the rule: double the previous term, then subtract 2.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

We can also verify this by working backward from the last term, using the reverse rule: if a term equals $2x - 2$, then the previous term is $x = \frac{\text{term} + 2}{2}$.

1. Start from 386. Previous term $= \frac{386 + 2}{2} = 194$, which matches the given value.
2. From 194, previous term $= \frac{194 + 2}{2} = 98$, which matches the given value.
3. From 98, previous term $= \frac{98 + 2}{2} = 50$. The series shows 48 here instead of 50, so this is where the mismatch appears.
4. Continuing anyway from the given 48, previous term $= \frac{48 + 2}{2} = 25$, which does not match the given 26, confirming the break is exactly at the 48.
5. From 26, previous term $= \frac{26+2}{2}=14$, which matches, and from 14, previous term $=\frac{14+2}{2}=8$, which also matches.

Working from both ends, every term checks out except 48, which should have been 50. So the wrong term is 48. $\boxed{48}$