In the number series 1, 2, 6, 24, 120, the next term is _______. – UGC NET Question

The terms are factorials: 1! = 1, 2! = 2, 3! = 6, 4! = 24 and 5! = 120. Following this rule, the next term should be 6!. Calculating 6! gives 1×2×3×4×5×6 = 720. Therefore, 720 is the correct continuation of the factorial sequence.

Option A:
Option A matches the pattern exactly because it equals 6!, the next factorial in order. The series 1, 2, 6, 24, 120, 720 clearly shows factorial growth of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. This consistency confirms 720 as the right answer.

Option B:
Option B is 600, which has no direct factorial interpretation in this context. It is neither 5! nor 6!, so it does not follow the factorial rule. Hence, 600 cannot be correct.

Option C:
Option C is 480, which also does not match any factorial value subsequent to 120. Choosing 480 would break the clearly defined multiplicative pattern. Therefore, it is not suitable.

Option D:
Option D is 240, which is only double 120 and would correspond to multiplying by 2 rather than by increasing integers. That is a different pattern from the factorial one, so 240 is not the correct next term.