If we call the terms a₀, a₁, a₂, a₃, a₄, a₅ and group them in pairs: (a₀, a₁), (a₂, a₃), (a₄, a₅) we can relate the second member of each pair to its partner: a[2k+1]=a[2k](2k+1) where the square brackets represent the subscript and k starts at 0. So, for example, if k=1, a₃=3a₂ and if k=2, a₅=5a₄.
Also a[2k]=2^(2^k), so, for example, if k=0, a₀=2^(2⁰)=2¹=2 and if k=1, a₂=2^(2¹)=2²=4, and a₁=a₀×1=2; if k=1, a₃=3a₂=3×4=12. So we have the series: 2, 2, 4, 12, 16, 80, the given series.
Therefore, a₆ is found from k=3: 2^(2³)=2⁸=256. The series becomes 2, 2, 4, 12, 16, 80, 256. (The next term would be 7×256=1792.)
This logic can be simplfied:
First, write down the first, third and fifth term but leave a gap between them:
(2 multiplied by itself is 4, 4 multiplied by itself is 16.)
Next, write the numbers 1 to 6 underneath, including the gaps:
To fill in the gaps, multiply the number on the top line by the one beneath it and put the result where the gap next to it is:
2 |
2 |
4 |
12 |
16 |
80 |
× |
=↑ |
× |
=↑ |
× |
=↑ |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
So, 2×1=2 goes into the first gap; 4×3=12 goes into the next gap; 16×5=80. That gives us the series. So to continue, we would, by this logic, need 16 multiplied by itself=256.