One number doesn't match this factorial series: 2, 6, 24, 120, 720, 1000
2025
One number doesn't match this factorial series: 2, 6, 24, 120, 720, 1000
- A.
6
- B.
24
- C.
1000
- D.
120
Attempted by 4 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
To identify which number does not match the factorial series, we must first understand the pattern defined by factorials (n!). A factorial, denoted by an exclamation mark, is the product of all positive integers less than or equal to n.
Step-by-Step Analysis
Evaluate the Factorials:
2! = 2 × 1 = 2
3! = 3 × 2 × 1 = 6
4! = 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 24
5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120
6! = 6 × 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 720
Compare with the Provided Series:
The provided series is: 2, 6, 24, 120, 720, 1000.
Comparing this to our calculated factorials, the first five terms (2, 6, 24, 120, 720) perfectly match the sequence of 2!, 3!, 4!, 5!, and 6!.
Identify the Mismatch:
The final number provided is 1000. However, the next term in the factorial sequence should be 7! = 5040. Therefore, 1000 is the number that does not belong in this series.