You need sky high IQ can figure out next number in tricky sequence

How proficient are you in maths? You might reckon you're a dab hand at addition or multiplication, but what about deciphering number sequences?

Understanding sequences is a significant part of school maths education, but it's not something we utilise in our everyday lives so it's easy to lose track of how to identify number patterns.

A new brainteaserhas left folks puzzled as it dares you to figure out what the next number should be in an utterly perplexing sequence. Giving your brain a daily workout with a puzzlecan help enhance cognitive function, so why not give this one a whirl and see how sharp your maths skills truly are?

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The image above presents the sequence you need to decipher. It states that if 7 = 42, then 6 = 30, and 5 = 20. You're not told what four equals, but you have to use the information provided to work out what you think three might be equal to. It seems bewildering at first, but there's a straightforward solution.

Initially, you might assume that the numbers simply increase by 10 each time, if five is equal to 20 and six is equal to 30. This would suggest that four, which isn't included in the puzzle, would be equal to 10, and three, the number you're searching for, would likely be equal to 0. However, this can't be correct as seven is equal to 42 rather than 40.

Cracked it yet? Genuine brain wizards should be able to solve this puzzle in just 11 seconds, so if you've already discovered the answer then you could well be a genius! If you require a bit more assistance, though, we can provide you with a clue.

To crack this puzzle, you need to know your multiplication tables. Have a proper look at the figures you've been provided with and attempt to discover something that connects them. We won't offer you any additional clues beyond this, so take all the time you require to figure it out, and then scroll down to reveal the solution!

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The solution is 3 = 6. The pattern of the sequence was that each number gets multiplied by the number preceding it. So in the instance of 7 = 42, the complete equation is 7 x 6 = 42. Likewise, 6 = 30 is actually 6 x 5 = 30, and 5 = 20 can be written in full as 5 x 4 = 20. The calculation for the number four would have been 4 x 3 = 12, and therefore the complete equation for the number three is 3 x 2 = 6.

Did you succeed in figuring it out? Tell us in the comments! And if you fancy testing your mental prowess with some more challenging puzzles, then why not have a crack at this maths problem, which some folk have declared is "simple" but has left others utterly baffled?

You could also attempt these Mensa-standard quiz questions, along with this quiz that requires a PhD to answer properly, and this general knowledge quiz that will demonstrate if you're cleverer than an eight year old.