In the given question, find the alternative which will replace the question mark (?).14 : 9 :: 26 : (?)

1. Break Down the Problem

We need to determine the value that corresponds to the second pair in the proportion given. The format we're looking at is 14 : 9 :: 26 : ?. We will analyze the relationship between the first two numbers to find the equivalent number for the last.

2. Relevant Concepts

The ratio indicates that we should look for a consistent mathematical relationship (such as a ratio, difference, or percentage) between the first pair of numbers.

3. Analysis and Detail

Calculating the difference between the two numbers in the first pair: $14 - 9 = 5$ Next, we can look at the procedure in reverse to find the relationship for the second part: Starting with 26, we can subtract the same difference (5) from it: $26 - 5 = 21$

4. Verify and Summarize

Now we verify our calculation:

• Original pair: $14 : 9$ has a difference of 5.
• If we apply the same operation to the second number (26), we get $26 - 5 = 21$. Thus, the corresponding value that replaces the question mark is indeed 21.

Final Answer

The answer is $21$.