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Refer to the following series: 7 9 @ # 2 * ┬г 4 6 $8 & 5 3 & % ╬й 1. How many such numbers are there, each of which is immediately preceded by a symbol and also immediately followed by a number?
0
1
2
3
0
Quick Trick: Scan for symbol-number-number triplets only, ignoring anything else to save time.
Scan for symbol-number-number triplets only, ignoring anything else to save time.
Analyze the condition
We need to find a pattern: (Symbol) followed by (Number) followed by (Number).
Examine the series
Series: 7, 9, @, #, 2, *, ┬г, 4, 6, $, 8, &, 5, 3, &, %, ╬й, 1. Triplet search: @ is followed by # (not a number); # is followed by 2 (number) but preceded by @ (symbol) - wait, # is a symbol. Let us check: @ (Symbol) # (Symbol). Next, # (Symbol)тВВ (Number) * (Symbol). Next, 2 (Number) * (Symbol) ┬г (Symbol). Next, * (Symbol) ┬г (Symbol)тВД (Number). Next, ┬г (Symbol)тВД (Number)тВЖ (Number). Here, 4 is preceded by ┬г (Symbol) and followed by 6 (Number). This fits the criteria: Symbol (┬г) тЖТ Number (4) тЖТ Number (6).
Re-evaluating the series string
Re-reading the sequence: 7, 9, @, #, 2, *, ┬г, 4, 6, , 8, &, 5, 3, &, \%, ╬й, 1. \text{Sequence check}: @#2 (\text{Symbol}-\text{Symbol}-\text{Number}), #2* (\text{Symbol}-\text{Number}-\text{Symbol}), 2*┬г (\text{Number}-\text{Symbol}-\text{Symbol}), *┬г4 (\text{Symbol}-\text{Symbol}-\text{Number}), ┬г46 (\text{Symbol}-\text{Number}-\text{Number}) - YES, this is one. 46 (Number-Number-Symbol), 68(NumberтИТSymbolтИТNumber),8& (Symbol-Number-Symbol), 8&5 (Number-Symbol-Number), &53 (Symbol-Number-Number) - YES, this is two. 53& (Number-Number-Symbol), 3&% (Number-Symbol-Symbol), &%╬й (Symbol-Symbol-Symbol), %╬й1 (Symbol-Symbol-Number). Total count is 2.
A is wrong because we found two occurrences (4 and 3). B is wrong as it only counts one. D is wrong because there is no third occurrence.
C is correct because the two numbers satisfying the condition (preceded by a symbol and followed by a number) are 4 (preceded by ┬г, followed by 6) and 3 (preceded by &, followed by &... wait, 3 is followed by & which is a symbol, so 3 is excluded). Let's re-verify: 5 is followed by 3 (number), but 5 is preceded by &. Thus 5 satisfies the condition (&53). So 4 and 5 are the two numbers.
In symbol-number series questions, always write the pattern (S-N-N) above the sequence to avoid missing overlapping triplets.