Mystery Question #8 Answer

"I'd like you to consider the following sequence of numbers, Granny. They are : 2, 5, 8, 11, 16, 14. What number less than 20 is the next in the line? I assure you that you do not need any mathemtical aptitude to arrive at the correct answer."

2, 5, 8, 11, 16, 14...

Mystery Question Answer

The answer is 17. As I finally realized, the numbers are in increasing length when spelled out fully as words. Two has 3 letters, five has 4, and so on, up to fourteen with eight digits. The only number with nine digits that is less than twenty is seventeen.