Answer: -27
Step-by-step explanation: Use inductive reasoning to predict the most probable next number in the list.
3, 9, -3, 3, -9, -3, -15, -9, -21, ?
We can start by looking at the differences between consecutive terms in the list:
9 - 3 = 6 -3 - 9 = -12 3 - (-3) = 6 -9 - 3 = -12 -3 - (-9) = 6 -15 - (-3) = -12 -9 - (-15) = 6 -21 - (-9) = -12
Notice that the differences alternate between positive 6 and negative 12. This suggests that the pattern involves adding 6, then subtracting 12, and then adding 6 again. Applying this pattern to the last term in the list (-21), we get:
-21 + 6 = -15 -15 - 12 = -27 -27 + 6 = -21
Therefore, we predict that the most probable next number in the list is -27.