What is the next number in the sequence 9, 3, 1, 1/3,...?

What is the next number in the sequence 9, 3, 1, 1/3,...?

• A. 1/27
• B. 1/3
• C. 1/6
• D. 1/9

Answer: (D)

The pattern is to take the previous number and divide it by 3 each time. Starting from 9, dividing by 3 gives 3; dividing by 3 again gives 1; dividing by 3 once more gives 1/3. Applying the same step to 1/3 yields (1/3) ÷ 3 = 1/9. So the next number is 1/9. The other options don’t follow this consistent divide-by-3 rule: 1/27 would require dividing by 9, 1/3 would repeat the previous term, and 1/6 isn’t a third of the prior term.

The pattern is to take the previous number and divide it by 3 each time. Starting from 9, dividing by 3 gives 3; dividing by 3 again gives 1; dividing by 3 once more gives 1/3. Applying the same step to 1/3 yields (1/3) ÷ 3 = 1/9. So the next number is 1/9. The other options don’t follow this consistent divide-by-3 rule: 1/27 would require dividing by 9, 1/3 would repeat the previous term, and 1/6 isn’t a third of the prior term.