# What's next? Think laterally

What is next in this sequence?

V

I V

I I I V

I I I I I V

V I I V

I V I I I I V

?

Answer is one of the following three options

A: I I I V I V I I V

B: I I I V I I I I I I V

C: V I I I V

### Hint

Not a math question

I think the next element is

I I I V I V I I V

Because

This is a look-and-say sequence using Roman numerals.
For example the first term is V, this is one V or I V which is the next term.
The last given element is I V I I I I V which is one I, one V, four Is and one V or I I I V I V I I V.

• That was amazingly quick @hexomino. Dang. – DrD Jun 8 '20 at 12:18
• Took your suggestion – DrD Jun 8 '20 at 12:20
• @DEEM Ah great thanks, I will edit. – hexomino Jun 8 '20 at 12:21
• @DEEM you said it's not a math question but look-and-say sequence IS math. – netrox Jun 9 '20 at 3:48
• My thought was that there are no math operations so really not a math problem @netrox – DrD Jun 9 '20 at 12:01

I think the next element is

I I I V I V I I V

Because

The pattern I see is that a V generates 1 I then adds two Is to the left. When the total amount of Is is 5 then the leftmost three are converted to a new V.

• Welcome to Puzzling.SE! hexomino had already given this answer fourteen hours before you posted it. Please try and make sure that you're not re-posting answers that have already been given. – F1Krazy Jun 9 '20 at 6:59
• @F1Krazy These answers are different. If Ruben continued to apply his pattern, the next sequence number would be "I I I I I V I I I V I I I I V" (there is no rule for "I I V" so "I V" would add two I's to the left, becoming "I I I I V"), whereas Hexomino would get "I I I I I V I I I V I I I I I V" (five I's on the far right vs four). – Briguy37 Jun 9 '20 at 16:36