The pattern here is not immediately obvious by simple multiplication or addition. Take a moment to analyze the matrix and see if you can discover the rule that governs the relationship between the numbers.
Answer:
Let’s look at the given matrix and find the pattern.
| 2 | 4 | 8 | ? |
| 3 | 12 | 36 | 108 |
In the second row, each number is a multiple of the previous number: , , and . So, the pattern in the second row is multiplication by 4 and then by 3 repeatedly.
Now, let’s apply similar logic to the first row. If we continue the pattern of multiplication, we look for the factor that, when applied to 2, gives us 4, and when applied to 4, gives us 8. The pattern here is multiplication by 2.
So, if we continue this pattern, we multiply 8 by 2 to find the missing number:
Therefore, the missing number is 16, which corresponds to option (a).
To summarize for a beginner: To solve such puzzles, look for a pattern in the rows or columns, such as each number being the result of multiplying or adding the previous number by a consistent number. Once you identify the pattern, you can apply it to find the missing number.
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