It could be
t(n) = (4n4 - 32n3 + 104n2 - 136n + 63)/3 for n = 1, 2, 3, ...
1 + (4) = 5 5 + (4x3) = 17 17 + (4x3x3) = 53 53 + (4x3x3x3) = 161 161 + (4x3x3x3x3) = ?
Next number in the series is 145715(5-1) x 3 = 12 + 5 = 17,(17-5) x 3 = 36 + 17 = 53,(53-17)x 3 = 108 + 53 = 161,(161-53)x 3 = 324 + 161 = 485(485-161)x3= 972+485=1457
the rule is mutltiply by 3 and add 2... hope that helps.
491
485
485
335
485
The next number is 485.
Each term in the sequence is three times the previous term plus two, so the next term is 485.1 (3 x 1 + 2) 5 (3 x 5 + 2) 17 (3 x 17 + 2) 53 (3 x 53 = 2) 161 (3 x 161 + 2) 485
485 You arrive at 485 by multiplying the difference in the numbers by 3,and adding to the number.i.e 5 minus 1 = 4, 4 x 3 = 12 + 5 = 17, 12 x 3 = 36 + 17 = 53, 36 x 3 = 108 + 53 = 161, 108 x 3 = 324 + 161 = 485.
Try: 161+324 = 485 would seem to fit the pattern