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INTERVIEW QUESTION:

How well can you identify patterns and relationships in requirements or business processes?

Posted by Chris Adams

// 21380 Views // 2 Additional Answers & Comments

Categories: Business Analysis, Systems Analysis, Requirements Analysis (BABOK KA), Analytical and Problem Solving Skills, General

ANSWER

The ability to identify, understand and analyze patterns and relationships is an important skill for Business Analysts. Find the pattern to identify the missing element in each sequence below, and demonstrate proficiency in this BA skill.

8723, 3872, 2387, ? (easy)
7, 5, 8, 4, 9, 3, ?, ? (easy)
2, 4, 5, 10, 12, 24, 27, ? (easy)
5, 7, 12, 19, 31, ? (easy)
1, 4, 9, 18, 35, ? (medium)
1, 2, 6, 24, 120, ? (medium)
4, 7, 15, 29, 59, 117, ? (medium)
4, 6, 12, 18, 30, 42, 60, ? (harder)

(Answers to follow in the comments section.)

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Sandy Lambert
Business Architect
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ADDITIONAL ANSWERS / COMMENTS

Sandy posted on Friday, April 25, 2014 12:48 PM

Here are the 'official' answers - some of you may have found other patterns. If so, please feel free to share!

Question 1: 8723, 3872, 2387 -> 7238 (Order of numbers rotates)

Question 2: 7, 5, 8, 4, 9, 3 -> 10, 2 (2 series – 7, 8, 9, 10 intermingled with 5, 4, 3, 2)

Question 3: 2, 4, 5, 10, 12, 24, 27 -> 54 (where ‘x’ = the previous number in the series, the sequence is x*2, x+1, x*2, x+2, x*2, x+3, etc.)

Question 4: 5, 7, 12, 19, 31 -> 50 (each number is the sum of the previous two numbers)

Question 5: 1, 4, 9, 18, 35 -> 68 (where ‘x’ is the previous number in the series, the sequence is x*2+2, x*2+1, x*2+0, x*2-1, x*2-2, etc.)

Question 6: 1, 2, 6, 24, 120 -> 720 (x*2, x*3, x*4, x*5, x*6, etc.)

Question 7: 4, 7, 15, 29, 59, 117 -> 235 (x*2+1, x*2-1, x*2+1, x*2-1, etc.)

Question 8: 4, 6, 12, 18, 30, 42, 60 -> 72 (Each number in the series falls directly between two prime numbers. Other numbers may have a prime number preceding them, or a prime number succeeding them - but only these have a prime number immediately preceding AND immediately succeeding. So yes - this one is definitely for the math geeks!)

zill posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 5:32 PM

that was hard

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Do your homework prior to the business analysis interview!

Having an idea of the type of questions you might be asked during a business analyst interview will not only give you confidence but it will also help you to formulate your thoughts and to be better prepared to answer the interview questions you might get during the interview for a business analyst position. Of course, just memorizing a list of business analyst interview questions will not make you a great business analyst but it might just help you get that next job.