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Given a sequence of three integers, determine if the sequence is arithmetic (of the form [a, a+d, a+2*d]) or geometric (of the form [a, a*r, a*r^2]) by outputting a fourth term that completes it (a+3*d for arithmetic, a*r^3 for geometric).

Examples:

[1, 2, 3] -> 4 (This is an arithmetic sequence with a difference of 1) [2, 4, 8] -> 16 (This is a geometric sequence with a ratio 2) [20, 15, 10] -> 5 (arithmetic sequence, d=-5) [6, 6, 6] -> 6 (arithmetic with d=0 OR geometric with r=1) [3, -9, 27] -> -81 (geometric with r=-3)
  • The input is guaranteed to be a valid arithmetic and/or geometric sequence (so you won't have to handle something like [10, 4, 99])
  • None of the inputted terms will be 0 (both [2, 0, 0] and [1, 0, -1] would not be given)
  • For geometric sequences, the ratio between terms is guaranteed to be an integer (ie. [4, 6, 9] would be an invalid input, as the ratio would be 1.5)
  • If a sequence could be either arithmetic or geometric, you may output either term that completes it
  • You may take input as a 3-term array (or whatever equivalent) or as three separate inputs
  • This is code golf, so aim for the lowest byte count possible!
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    \$\begingroup\$ I think I'll remove any test cases involving 0 (as a term). Someone on the sandbox mentioned [1, 0, 0] \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 22, 2024 at 22:37
  • \$\begingroup\$ Regarding "If a sequence could be either arithmetic or geometric", this happens if and only if the three terms are equal, which corresponds to either (a = 0, d = 0, r = anything) or (a != 0, d = 0, r = 1). \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 23, 2024 at 16:02

21 Answers 21

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18
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Python, 34 bytes

-1 thanks to @Arnauld

lambda a,b,c:c+(c-b)**2/(b-a or 1)

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How?

Uses the fact that the increments form a geometric sequence in either case. (This avoids the longish (in Python) ternary operator.)

Indeed: \$c+\frac{(c-b)^2}{b-a} = \begin{cases} c+(c-b)=2c-b & \text{if }c-b=b-a \\ c+(c-b)\times \frac c b = \frac{c^2} b & \text{if } \frac c b = \frac b a \end{cases}\$

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    \$\begingroup\$ i accidentally downvoted can you edit so i can change it \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 23, 2024 at 0:06
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    \$\begingroup\$ Would it be OK to use / instead of //? Returning integers as floats is fine. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 23, 2024 at 5:28
  • \$\begingroup\$ With "ternary operator" it's only 2 bytes longer: lambda a,b,c:(c*b/a,c+b-a)[c-b==b-a] (unfortunately cannot compress c-b==b-a into c-2*b+a because that can take values other than 0 or 1) \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 23, 2024 at 17:07
  • \$\begingroup\$ @Stef you could use c*a<b*b, though, couldn't you? \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 24, 2024 at 5:20
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Raku (Perl 6), 13 bytes

A block taking a sequence of length 3 as a single argument. This task is a perfect match for Raku's sequence operator.

{($_...*)[3]}

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9
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Python 3, 24 bytes

lambda a,b,c:c*(a+c)/b-b

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Note that this fails when \$ a=0 \$ or \$ b=0 \$, but that seems to be OK for this challenge :). We can verify its correctness:

  • For an arithmetic sequence \$ b-a = c-b \implies 2b = a+c \$, the formula rightfully produces \$ 2c-b \$: $$ \frac{c*(a+c)}{b}-b = \frac{c*2b}{b}-b = 2c-b $$
  • Likewise, for a geometric sequence \$ b/a = c/b \implies a = b^2/c \$, the formula rightfully produces \$ c^2/b \$: $$ \frac{c*(a+c)}{b}-b = \frac{c*(b^2/c+c)}{b}-b = \frac{b^2+c^2}{b}-b = b+\frac{c^2}{b}-b = \frac{c^2}{b} $$
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    \$\begingroup\$ Since \$ 2b = a + c \$ and \$ b^2 = ac \$ respectively, you can just say \$ \frac { c ( a + c) } b - b = \frac { 2bc } b - b = 2c - b \$ and \$ \frac { c (a + c) } b - b = \frac { b^2 + c^2 } b - b = b + \frac { c^2 } b - b = \frac { c^2 } b \$. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 25, 2024 at 14:56
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JavaScript (ES6), 28 bytes

(a,b,c)=>c-2*b+a?c*c/b:2*c-b

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Commented

(a, b, c) => // given the 3 integers, c - 2 * b + a ? // if the sequence is not arithmetic: c * c / b // assume it's geometric and return the next geometric term : // else: 2 * c - b // return the next arithmetic term
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6
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R, 28 bytes

\(a,b,c)c+(c-b)^2/(b-a+!b-a)

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Port of @loopy walt's Python answer.

R, 33 bytes

\(a,b,c)`if`(c-b-b+a,c*c/b,c+c-b)

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Straightforward approach.

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5
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Google Sheets, 34 bytes

=IF(A3/A2=A2/A1,A3*A2/A1,A3+A2-A1)

The formula assumes the sequence is in A1:A3.

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4
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Awk, 33 bytes

1,$0=$1-2*$2+$3?$2*$3/$1:$2+$3-$1

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You could remove the 1, at the start if you assume that the output will not be 0, saving 2 bytes.

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Jelly, 11 bytes

I+×÷Ɲ$}E?UḢ

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A monadic link taking a list of three integers and returning an integer.

Explanation

I | Increments (differences between consecutive list members) E? | If all equal then: + U | - Add the increments to the reversed input list $} U | Else, following as a monad applied to the reversed input list: × | - Multiply by: ÷Ɲ | - The result of dividing each pair of neighbouring list members Ḣ | Head
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3
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Vyxal 3, 13 bytes

¯≈[Ṛ+|ᵃ÷Iᵃ×]t

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Port of Nick Kennedy's Jelly answer, sort of?

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    \$\begingroup\$ Updated with attribution since there are now two Jelly answers. Always best to link regardless in my opinion. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 23, 2024 at 17:40
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Alice, 29 bytes

3&/O ?+\M@/!]!?-R.n$n?[?-.*~:

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-4 bytes thanks to Nitrodon!

Uses loopy walt's solution, go upvote them!

3&/M\ Read 3 arguments a b c on the stack !]! Pop and write c then b on the tape ?-R Push b on the stack and calculate b-a .n$n if b-a is 0, replace with 1 ?[? Push b and c on the stack -.* Calculate (c-b)^2 ~: Calculate (c-b)*(c-b)/(b-a or 1) ?+ Pop c and calculate c+(c-b)*(c-b)/(b-a or 1) \O@ Output the result
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    \$\begingroup\$ 29 bytes by using a different code layout. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 24, 2024 at 22:02
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Funge-98, 46 bytes

<@.+wR-R:VI\OO-R:VIVI(4"FRTH"(4"STRN" /\OR<@.*

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2
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APL+WIN, 43 38 bytes

Prompts for integers

↑(=/¨a b)/(↑v×↑a←2÷/v),(↑v+↑b←2-/v←⌽⎕)

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2
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Jelly, 9 bytes

Uses the trick described by loopy walt in their excellent Python answer although the implementation is somewhat different.

IQ²÷¥@/+Ṫ

A monadic Link that accepts a triple of integers, [a, b, c], that is either arithmetic or geometric and yields the next integer in the series, d.

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How?

IQ²÷¥@/+Ṫ - Link: list of integers, [a, b, c] I - forward differences -> [b-a, c-b] Q - deduplicate -> if arithmetic: L=[b-a] (potentially [0]) else: L=[b-a, c-b] (with no zeros) / - reduce L by: @ - with swapped arguments: ¥ - last two links as a dyad - f(x, y): ² - square -> x^2 ÷ - divide -> x^2/y -> if arithmetic: Z=b-a (only one item so reduce does not perform f) else: Z=(c-b)^2/(b-a) + - add {[a, b, c]} (vectorises) -> [a+Z,b+Z,c+Z] Ṫ - tail -> c+Z (= d) -> if arithmetic: d=c+(b-a) else: d=c+(c-b)^2/(b-a)
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2
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Desmos, 19 bytes

f(a,b,c)=c(a+c)/b-b

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Port of dingledooper's Python 3 solution, so make sure to upvote that one too!

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2
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C (gcc), 24 bytes

f(a,b,c){a=c*(a+c)/b-b;}

Another port of dingledooper's answer!

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Vyxal, 6 bytes

+∇/*⁰-

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Port of dingledooper's clever formula, go look at that for an explanation of why this works.

 # input c, a, b + # c+a ∇ # rotate stack to b, c, c+a / # c/b * # (c+a) * c/b ⁰ # last input (b) - # (c+a) * c/b - b

This uses four necessary operations (+/-*) and two stack-manipulation operations (⁰∇). I'm fairly sure that a solution with only one stack-manipulation op is impossible but I'd love to be proven wrong.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Your explanation is incorrect. It's c/b not b/c (e.g. (c+a) * b/c - b for the first test case would be (3+1) * 2/3 - 2 = ⅔ instead of (3+1) * 3/2 - 2 = 4). Your code and TIO are fine. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 25, 2024 at 9:34
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Perl 5 -ap, 41 bytes

$_=2*($b=<>)-$_-($c=<>)?$c*$c/$b:$c+$b-$_

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1
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MathGolf, 6 bytes

+╠*k;,

Port of dingledooper's Python 3 answer, so make sure to upvote that answer as well!

I/O as floats, and inputs are in the order \$c,a,b\$.

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Explanation:

+ # Add the first two (implicit) inputs together: c+a ╠ # Divide it by the third (implicit) input: (c+a)/b * # Multiply it by the first (implicit) input: (c+a)/b*c k; # Push the second input, and discard it , # Subtract it by the third (implicit) input: (c+a)/b*c-b # (after which the entire stack is output implicitly as result)

The k;, could also be ?-Þ for the same byte-count: Try it online.

 ? # Triple-swap the top three values: a,(c+a)/b,b - # Subtract the top two: a,(c+a)/b-b Þ # Only keep the top value of the stack: (c+a)/b-b # (after which the entire stack is output implicitly as result)
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1
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Retina 0.8.2, 65 bytes

.+ $* ¶1+¶ $'$& 1(?=1*¶1+¶(1+)) $1 (?=1+¶(1+)¶)\1 1 (1+)¶\1¶1+ 1

Try it online! Takes input on separate lines but link is to test suite that splits on non-digits for convenience. Limited to positive integers due to use of unary arithmetic. Explanation: Uses @dingledooper's formula.

.+ $*

Convert to unary.

¶1+¶ $'$&

Add c to a.

1(?=1*¶1+¶(1+)) $1

Multiply a+c by c.

(?=1+¶(1+)¶)\1 1

Divide that by b.

(1+)¶\1¶1+

Subtract b and remove b and c.

1

Convert to decimal.

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1
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Charcoal, 16 bytes

ＮθＮηＮζＩ⁻÷×⁺θζζηη

Try it online! Link is to verbose version of code. Explanation: Trivial implementation of @dingledooper's formula.

35 bytes to validate the input:

ＮθＮηＮζ¿⁼⊗η⁺θζＩ⁻⁺ζηθ¿∧θ⁼×ηη×θζＩ÷×ζηθ

Try it online! Link is to verbose version of code. Works with edge cases such as 0 0 0, 1 0 0, 1 0 -1. Doesn't output anything if the input is not an arithmetic or geometric sequence.

Notes for both solutions:

  • 6 bytes (ＮθＮηＮζ) could be saved by requiring the input to be in JSON format.
  • Floating-point arithmetic could be used by replacing ÷ with ∕.
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1
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SAKO, 41 bytes

PODPROGRAM:S(A,K,O) S()=O×(A+O)/B-B WROC
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