Number Patterns and Sequences
A number pattern is a list of numbers that follows a certain rule. When we can figure out the rule, we can predict what numbers come next!
Think of patterns like playing a game where you need to figure out what comes next!
Types of Number Patterns
Addition Patterns
In addition patterns, we add the same number each time.
Example: 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, ...
Here, we add 3 each time to get the next number.
Subtraction Patterns
In subtraction patterns, we subtract the same number each time.
Example: 20, 17, 14, 11, 8, ...
Here, we subtract 3 each time to get the next number.
Multiplication Patterns
In multiplication patterns, we multiply by the same number each time.
Example: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, ...
Here, we multiply by 2 each time to get the next number.
How to Find the Pattern
- Look at the numbers carefully.
- Try to figure out how to get from one number to the next.
- Ask yourself: Am I adding? Subtracting? Multiplying?
- Test your rule to see if it works for all the numbers.
Finding patterns helps us with algebraic thinking, which means thinking about numbers and how they relate to each other. This is a skill you'll use a lot in math as you get older!
Patterns are everywhere in our daily life - like days of the week that repeat every 7 days, or the months of the year that repeat every 12 months.