What will be the next term in the given series? AC6, DF9, GI12,?

AIIMS Nagpur NO - 2018

Reasoning

Hard

Appeared in: AIIMS Nagpur NO - 2018

Explanation

The series follows a consistent pattern for each of its three components: the first letter, the second letter, and the number.
The first letter of each term advances by 3 positions in the alphabet (A → D → G → J).
The second letter of each term also advances by 3 positions in the alphabet (C → F → I → L).
The number in each term increases by a constant value of 3 (6 → 9 → 12 → 15).
Combining these three independent patterns (J, L, and 15) gives the next term in the series as JL15.

Option B: This option has the correct number (15) but follows an incorrect letter pattern. The first letter 'H' is G+1 (not +3) and the second letter 'K' is I+2 (not +3).
Option C: This option is incorrect because it only contains one letter ('M') and the number '15'. The established pattern requires two letters per term.
Option D: This option has the correct number (15) but the letters 'K' and 'M' do not follow the +3 progression. 'K' is G+4 and 'M' is I+4.

Visual 1: Flowchart: A visual breaking down the series into three parallel streams (First Letter, Second Letter, Number) showing the '+3' operation applied at each step to derive the next element in each stream.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Alphanumeric Series Completion as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This type of logical reasoning question is not directly related to clinical nursing practice.
However, it assesses analytical and problem-solving skills, which are crucial for nurses in making quick, logical decisions, interpreting data, and identifying patterns in patient symptoms or lab results.
What if the number pattern was multiplication instead of addition (e.g., 6, 12, 24)? The approach would be the same: identify the operator (in that case, x2) and apply it to find the next term (48).

How to Approach the Question

First, observe the structure of the terms in the series. Notice that each term is a combination of letters and a number (e.g., Letter-Letter-Number).
Break the series down into separate patterns for each component. Create three sub-sequences: one for the first letter (A, D, G), one for the second letter (C, F, I), and one for the number (6, 9, 12).
Analyze the pattern in the first letter sequence. Calculate the gap between consecutive letters (A to D is +3, D to G is +3). Determine the next letter by applying the same rule (G + 3 = J).
Repeat this analysis for the second letter sequence (C to F is +3, F to I is +3). Find the next letter (I + 3 = L).
Analyze the pattern in the number sequence. Calculate the difference between consecutive numbers (9 - 6 = 3, 12 - 9 = 3). Find the next number by applying the same rule (12 + 3 = 15).
Finally, combine the results from each sub-sequence (J, L, 15) to construct the complete next term: JL15.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QlRmHXj5HMkagrcu1oss3O