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     The Solution for Puzzle #114
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   What is the next number in this series
       12, 14, 18, 26, 38, 46, __
The answer 50 seems to satisfy many responders....however this set 
was presented in error the intended puzzle was
       12, 14, 18, 26, 38, 62, 74, .......___
Where you add the product of the digits in one number to get the next.
I am embarrassed and apologetic for having you waste your time.
You surmounted this problem with some creative solutions.
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   Everyone is a winner.  Congratulations to all who replied.
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========The most common answer was 50!!!
Alex Ko *** from Lindsay Place High School 
                       provided the following rationale ***
Lindsay Place High School - Pointe-Claire, Canada
        12, 14, 18, 26,  38, 46, 50
          +2  +4  +8  +12  +8  +4

50
Sarah Lai 
Grandview Heights - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

50
John Tyler Elementary School 

50
philip kimsey
cordova lane elementry school - rancho cordva, United States of America

50
From the 8 B class
Chipman Junior-Senior High School:
bartosum@nbed.nb.ca (SUSAN M BARTON)

50
Per Holm Sweden

50
Bryan Penfound
St. Philip's School
Petrolia,Ont.
Grade 7

50, 52
Barry Spence's students
Red Deer Public School District #104

50.
TRAVIS HUTSAL, MAYBELLINE WOZNEY, DAYNA KONDRA - Grade 6
Smith-Jackson School - Dauphin, Manitoba

50
Kendyll Dobbin - Grade 6
St. Philip School - Petrolia, Ont.

50
Kevin Simmavong, Kyle Armstrong, Shannon Correia, Sarah Preston  Grade 4
Mr. Gamauf's Grade 4/5 class
Parkway Public School - Cambridge, Ontario

50
Taras Perehinec
Wendy Portnuff
Alan Vanderbeek
Charlie Luke
    of unknown location(s)

50
Graham Squires 
Dr. Losier Middle School - Miramichi , N.B. Canada

50
Kevin Janzen 
Academyonline - Innisfail, Alberta

50
Lee Hrenchuk  (grade seven)
62
Reegan Bourgeois (grade four)
68
Marlee Martin (grade four) 
General Byng School - Winnipeg, Manitoba
mhowden@minet.gov.mb.ca (Mona-Lynne Howden)

=========A rationale for 58 as the answer came from Brian Gomes

We made several attempts at this and submitted 58 on this basis:

Using the originally proposed sequence: 12, 14, 18, 26, 38, 46, __
                                         a   b   c   d   e   f   g
12+18 = 30    ....    a+c = 30
14+26 = 40    ....    b+d = 40
12+38 = 50    ....    a+e = 50                     
14+46 = 60    ....    b+f = 60

(a and b alternating on the left of '+' and sequentially  
adding to c, d, e, f on the right) 
then it's now a's turn +  unknown g to equal 70:

                      a+g = 70
12+58 = 70

Since a=12, then g should equal 58.

It would follow that after this, the next in the sequence should be

b+h = 80  Since b=14, then h would be 66.

The sequence becomes, 12, 14, 18, 26, 38, 46, 58, 66, ......

Brian Gomes

58
Grade 6 Gomes/Cheverie 
Tallahassee Community School - Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia, Canada
maccusal@nbed.nb.ca (SANDRA L MACCURDY)

58
Paul Hyatt - Mrs. Boyle Gr.7
St. Therese School - Sarnia Ont.

58 
Lance Hart, Edmond McRae
St. Margaret's School - Sarnia, Ontario

58
Grade 6 Gomes/Cheverie 
Tallahassee Community School - Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia, Canada
maccusal@nbed.nb.ca (SANDRA L MACCURDY)

58
Brett McLaughlin - Grade 6
Smith-Jackson School - Dauphin, Manitoba

=======there were other solutions without explaination..

48
SHERRY SINCLAIR - Grade 6
Smith-Jackson School - Dauphin, Manitoba

52
Manjot Kang, Chris Thomas - Grade 6 
Shamrock School - Winnipeg, MB

54
Chris Hill
St. Therese School - Sarnia, Ontario

54
Stephanie Bush - Ms.Cross
St.Anne's

56
Kaleigh Wills - Grade 6
Shamrock School - Winnipeg, MB

60
DUSTIN MAYUK, CODEY MISANCHUK - Grade 6
Smith-Jackson School - Dauphin, Manitoba

64.
OKSANA MAKOWSKY, JENNIFER SLOBODZIAN, LEEANN KOSTUR - Grade 6
Smith-Jackson School - Dauphin, Manitoba

78
Charla Boonstoppel
St. Margaret's School - Sarnia, Ontario

84 
Willow  Eaglesham - Grade 9
Forster High School - Windsor, Ont.

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