5
$\begingroup$

Be forewarned: this is a riddle in the spirit of riddles.

Given the following:

...4522222222255555555599999999

What are the next digits?

Note: I did not specify the number of digits you should give, because, if you know the answer, you can continue to correctly add an arbitrarily large number of digits.

I could ask you give the next 4 or 5 digits, but you would probably want to give more than 4 or 5 digits.

Hint:

the next 7 digits are 999999999

...But why?......

Sound out what you see... 3 dots, 1 four, 1 five, 9 twos, 6 fives, followed by 3 fives, then 8 nines.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
5
  • $\begingroup$ How do I give a hint and how do I provide the (an) answer to the question? $\endgroup$
    – user21896
    Commented May 4, 2016 at 17:29
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ You can edit the post and add the hint in the spoiler (it starting with >! ) $\endgroup$
    – Arulkumar
    Commented May 4, 2016 at 17:31
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Question was first asked on another StackExchange site, but it refered to a 'decimal expansion' there. We may be looking at a fraction here. $\endgroup$
    – Tim Couwelier
    Commented May 4, 2016 at 17:35
  • 5
    $\begingroup$ I don't see why this got so many downvotes besides maybe that the last hint was a little too strong. $\endgroup$
    – SendersReagent
    Commented May 5, 2016 at 1:20
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ The last hint is not so much "a little too strong" as "answering the question". $\endgroup$
    – Gareth McCaughan ♦
    Commented Jun 1, 2016 at 16:04

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
23
$\begingroup$

It's the:

digits of π, just with every other digit stating the number of the following one.

So 3 point(s), 1 4, 1 5, 9 2s, 6 5s, 3 5s, 8 9s, 7 9s, 3 2s, 3 8s, ...

To expand the sequence: ...45222222222555555555999999999999999222888 ...

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.