# What is the next item in the following sequence?

11111111, 333333, 5555, 77, ?

Find the most complete and simplest solution that fits.

• Whoever VTC'd did so for an incorrect reason. In fact, I don't really see a reason to close this. – greenturtle3141 Jun 5 '19 at 0:32

The most complete and simple solution I can think of

is

the empty space above, represents
$$\mathbb{NOTHING}$$

Factorising the numbers does not reveal any pattern so
I went with the sequence of digits. The next one after $$1, 3, 5, 7$$ is $$9$$.
The number of occurrences of each digit after $$8, 6, 4, 2$$ is $$0$$.
So there are no nines.
That is not zero, but an empty space — nothing.

• I would be surprised if there were a simpler solution than this. – hexomino Jun 5 '19 at 9:17
• Empty nines, or empty anything, is there a difference? – z100 Jun 5 '19 at 22:29
• @z100 oh yes. What is unsaid, can be as revealing as what is said. Consider too, that the absence of a winning lottery ticket is quite different from the absense of a losing lottery ticket. – Weather Vane Jun 5 '19 at 22:50