Answer: What Comes Next? #416

The answer is C: 35.

The finished pattern: 14, 15, 17, 20, 24, 29, 35.
The finished pattern.

The rule

Add 1, then add 2, then add 3, then 4… The gap grows by one every time.

The pattern as Python code

Here is a tiny Python program that follows the same rule. Type it into IDLE and run it to print the whole pattern, including the answer.

number = 14
gap = 1
for step in range(7):
    print(number)
    number = number + gap
    gap = gap + 1

When you run it, Python prints:

14
15
17
20
24
29
35

Pixel says: Try changing a number in the code and run it again. Can you make the pattern go on for 20 steps? Meow!