What would be the next digit that follows these numbers?
1, 11, 20, 30, 7, 49, 42, 23, 3, ?
Just so it's clear, you won't need any mathematics to solve this at all! In fact, everything you need is here.
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$\begingroup$ so no math or lateral thinking needed? hmmm... $\endgroup$ – stack reader Nov 11 '16 at 8:47
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2$\begingroup$ A little thinking outside the box is definitely required, but I left off the 'lateral thinking' tag to discourage answers like "this sequence is the number of footsteps needed to cover the width of a soccer field in New South Wales!". $\endgroup$ – Xenocacia Nov 11 '16 at 8:52
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$\begingroup$ When you say next digit are you saying the next number is one digit or you want the first digit of the next number (which may be 10 or more)? $\endgroup$ – boboquack Nov 11 '16 at 9:01
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2$\begingroup$ I'm pretty sure I've solved it, but that there is a 42 missing between 49 and 23. $\endgroup$ – Jonathan Allan Nov 11 '16 at 9:02
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1$\begingroup$ @JonathanAllan, thank you for spotting that error, and damn that was quick! $\endgroup$ – Xenocacia Nov 11 '16 at 9:06
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I think the answer is
68
Because
If you read only the alphabetic characters of the question each number in the sequence is the first occurrence of a letter ordered by the alphabet:
A is first found at index 1 - Asimple...
B is first found at index 11 - ...numB...
C is first found at index 20 - ...ersequenCe...
D is first found at index 30 - ...whatwoulD...
E is first found at index 7 - asimplE...
F is first found at index 49 - ...nextdigitthatF...
G is first found at index 42 - ...nextdiGitthat...
H is first found at index 23 - ...sequencewHatwould...
I is first found at index 3 - asImple...
...and
J is first found at index 68 - ...thatfollowsJustsoitsclear...
answered Nov 11 '16 at 9:06
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$\begingroup$ Ah, you were just a second earlier. You counted the ? as well? $\endgroup$ – Levieux Nov 11 '16 at 9:07
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4$\begingroup$ I thought this would stump the community for a little longer than this. Guess I underestimated Puzzling SE. Congratulations! $\endgroup$ – Xenocacia Nov 11 '16 at 9:09
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$\begingroup$ @Levieux you were faster answering but he commented abov 9 min ago $\endgroup$ – lois6b Nov 11 '16 at 9:12
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$\begingroup$ @Levieux oh, nope - I just can't count near that number without Bill & Ted influencing my numeracy. Thanks! $\endgroup$ – Jonathan Allan Nov 11 '16 at 9:15
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I would say it's
68: The position of the first occurrence of the letter J.
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Here is an attempt.
If it is a simple number sequence and everything we need is here and no math is needed.
Perhaps it is just that, 1 full complete sequence of number.
That would mean that the next number would be "1" since the first sequence if over and we start a new loop.
For example, if we say 4,1,3,4,1,3,? then the answer is 4
answered Nov 11 '16 at 8:38
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2$\begingroup$ Nice try, but nope. That would be too lazy on my part, wouldn't it? :) $\endgroup$ – Xenocacia Nov 11 '16 at 8:41
