Hi

I wonder if anyone can help with the solution to a Bond question.

The question states “Find the missing number by using the two numbers outside the brackets in the same way as the other sets of numbers”

The solution for most are straightforward:

7 [28] 4
6 [18] 3
9 [45] 5

So the outside numbers are multiplied together for this one. We are stumped however for this one below:

5 [10] 4
3 [14] 8
2 [2] 6

We thought the solution was outside numbers multiplied then subtract 10, but as 10 is not one of the outside numbers I don’t think that can be correct.

Thanks so much for any help or tips on these question types.

Your assumption is correct. The 10 is a "missing operator": although it doesn't appear in the question, the same rule (multiply and subtract 10) can be applied to each set of numbers and it is therefore a valid answer. What cannot happen is for there to be a different rule for any of the sets of numbers.

Thanks so much! Set of 15 questions and this was the only one that used a “missing operator”, great to know we were on the right track.