Question

Use the pattern "1 less than 3 times the number." Start with the number 5. What is the 4th number in the pattern?

Answer 1

The answer is not 23 or 365.

Answer 2

The rule "1 less than 3 times the number" makes this equation:

3x-1



1st number: 3 * (5) - 1 = 15 - 1 = 14

2nd number: 3 * (14) - 1 = 42-1 = 41

3rd number: 3 * (41) - 1 = 123 - 1 = 122

4th number: 3 * (122) - 1 = 366 - 1 = 365