need MAJOR HELP!!! need a numeric sequence app

[Shingi]

Guys,

Not sure if this is the correct section but I'll give it a shot. I'm looking for numeric sequence prediction program. Say if I input a set of # or #s say three times and see if it can find a pattern on the next #.
say if I input

first input 3 0 0 4 2 9 6
second input 4 1 1 5 3 0 7
third input 5 2 2 6 4 1 8

Now if you're looking at the above # you would notice that I add one to each # every round. I need a program that can find patterns like that and predict the next #. Basically a program that can think and uses a gizillion methods to see if there is a trend/pattern and try to come up with the next set of #s. Is there such program and can I acquire it for use.

Or a second example would be something like this:
First set will be a+b+c = D
second set (D+a)+(D+b)+(D+c) = D
third set will be the same as second set because it just repeats the same process so
a,b,c would be what I would inpute and D would total +a,b,c and so on.

Is there such program? Also if i'm not clear on anything please let me know.

 

[alkemyst]

This is a lot like how password decryptors work.

 

[DominionSeraph]

This isn't my area of expertise, but I recall reading something to the effect that there are an infinite number of equations which will describe any finite series of points.

 

[Shingi]

DominionSeraph - you hit nail on the head. basically a program that will find the prediction using an infinite # of equations to find a pattern/trend or to see if there is one. So now the questions is "Do such programs exist?

 

[f95toli]

No, they do not exist. Because there are an infinite number of possible solutions.

There are however books/databases with numerical sequences. A well known example is the "Sloane"
http://www.research.att.com/~njas/sequences/

 

[jimhsu]

Have you seen eureqa? They don't solve sequences, but the problem is similar.

Even if there are a infinite number of sequences, there are also an infinite number that describe the true sequence arbitrarily closely.

 

[bobsmith1492]

Maybe you could create a genetic algorithm to automatically fit your data then project?

 

[canis]

..

 

[canis]

..

 

[DrPizza]

Perhaps you could write an application which would grab your data in a variety of ways & attempt to match it to the online encyclopedia of integer sequences?
i.e. if you put in "3 4 5", it would come up with a number of different integer sequences which contained 3 4 5. Then, you would compare your next set of data to that integer sequence or the rule for that integer sequence.

 

[Shingi]

All good options except I do not know how to program, and is unwilling to learn how because I'm a people person rather than a coder. No offense, just that I would fall asleep trying to code. Thanks for all the help. . . I will try to go fromt these and see if I can dig up anything more.