Answer: What Number Comes Next in the Sequence?

Did you get it right?

This sequence puzzle shows 2, 5, 10, 17, and a missing number. The clue is the changing difference under the boxes.

The Answer

The correct answer is: 26.

Here is why

1. 2 to 5 adds 3.
2. 5 to 10 adds 5, and 10 to 17 adds 7.
3. The next difference is 9, so 17 + 9 = 26.

Why people miss it

The numbers are not going up by the same amount each time. The differences increase by 2.

What answer did you get before checking?