Predict the next number in the series 42, 110, 156, 272. ?

The series is built from consecutive prime numbers p using the rule p^2 − p.

Check each term:

• 7^2 − 7 = 49 − 7 = 42

• 11^2 − 11 = 121 − 11 = 110

• 13^2 − 13 = 169 − 13 = 156

• 17^2 − 17 = 289 − 17 = 272

The primes used so far are 7, 11, 13, and 17. The next prime is 19.

So the next term is 19^2 − 19 = 361 − 19 = 342.