topic badge

Problems with patterns with whole numbers

Lesson

If numbers increase or decrease by a regular amount, we can describe this as a number pattern.

 

Increasing Number Patterns

If numbers rise by a regular amount, we can describe these as increasing number patterns. We could use addition or multiplication to make numbers get bigger.

Counting up by twos is an example of an addition pattern because each number is $2$2 bigger than the last.

This is an increasing sequence, where we add $2$2 at every step

We can describe these numbers as following a rule. In this case, the rule could be describes as, "Add $2$2 each time."

 

Decreasing Number Patterns

If numbers reduce by a regular amount, we can describe these as decreasing number patterns. We could use subtraction or division to make numbers get smaller.

This is a decreasing sequence, where we subtract $3$3 at every step

Worked Examples

Question 1

 

Question 2

The numbers in the sequence represent the number of squares in the picture pattern. Write the next numbers in the pattern.

  1. $4$4, $\editable{}$, $\editable{}$, $\editable{}$, $\editable{}$, $\editable{}$

 

Question 3

Complete the pattern:

  1. $8$8, $12$12, $16$16, $\editable{}$, $\editable{}$, $\editable{}$

  2. What is the rule for filling in the pattern?

    Add $8$8.

    A

    Subtract $8$8.

    B

    Subtract $4$4.

    C

    Add $4$4.

    D

 

Outcomes

NA3-8

Connect members of sequential patterns with their ordinal position and use tables, graphs, and diagrams to find relationships between successive elements of number and spatial patterns.

What is Mathspace

About Mathspace