Topics
8. Patterns
topic badge
AustraliaNSW
Stage 2

8.01 Shape patterns

Lesson
Practice
Lesson

Are you ready?

Do you know the names of 2D shapes? Try this question.

Examples

Example 1

Which of these shapes is a square?

A
A square
B
A pentagon
C
A hexagon
D
A triangle
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Count the sides in each picture.

Apply the idea

A square has 4 sides. The picture in option A has 4 sides and the rest do not.

So the correct option is A.

Shape patterns

This video explains how we can identify and continue patterns.

Loading video...

Examples

Example 2

What is the next shape in the pattern?

A pattern consisting of triangle,hexagon, triangle, triangle, hexagon,triangle, and a question mark
A
A pentagon
B
A hexagon
C
A triangle
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Look for repetition in the pattern.

Apply the idea

Notice the pattern goes triangle, hexagon, triangle and then repeats and begins with triangle again. So the next shape will be a triangle, because the pattern is starting again.

The correct option is C.

Idea summary

When identifying a pattern, look at all the different parts

  • colour

  • shape

  • position

  • number

Outcomes

MA2-8NA

generalises properties of odd and even numbers, generates number patterns, and completes simple number sentences by calculating missing values

MA2-15MG

manipulates, identifies and sketches two-dimensional shapes, including special quadrilaterals, and describes their features

What is Mathspace

About Mathspace