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That notation is ambiguous. It doesn't cause a problem for humans since we can infer the correct meaning from the context, but it would for computers.

For example, does 3, 5, ... 11 mean the odd numbers between 3 and 11 inclusive, or the primes between 3 and 11 inclusive?

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No, it is ambiguous for humans too as evidenced by the gazillions of problems of the form "N1, N2, N3, what number comes next?".

Just decide on some rule for how decide and let people make their own standard if they don't like it.

Of course the answer is N1 - 3 N2 + 3 N3, since that naturally completes the cubic interpolating polynomial.

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