If I told you that a list of numbers started with $3$3 and increased by $2$2 each time, you could find the next number in the pattern. It would be $3+2=5$3+2=5.

In fact, you could find every number in the pattern!

$3+2=5$3+2=5
$5+2=7$5+2=7
$7+2=9$7+2=9
$9+2=11$9+2=11

... and so on. This is called creating a pattern from a description. Watch the video below to see more about creating patterns from a description.

Now that you've learnt how to create a pattern from a description, try some questions yourself!

Worked Examples

Example 1

Create a pattern by adding $1$1 each time.

$5$5 $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$

Example 2

Create a pattern by subtracting $2$2 each time.

$19$19 $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$

Example 3

Create a pattern by adding $11$11 each time.

$39$39 $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$

Outcomes

NA2-8

Find rules for the next member in a sequential pattern.

Create a pattern from a description (add/sub)