- Extend numerical patterns
numerical pattern
A numerical pattern is a sequence of numbers that follows a specific rule or relationship.
To extend a pattern, we identify the rule and use it to find the next terms. Common patterns include adding or subtracting the same number (arithmetic), multiplying or dividing by the same number (geometric), or following more complex rules.
Finding the Pattern
The first step in extending any numerical pattern is identifying what rule connects the numbers.
Identify the pattern and find the next three terms: 5, 8, 11, 14, …
Common Types of Patterns
Question Help: Steps to Find Numerical Patterns
- Find the difference between each term using subtraction. Does the pattern add the same thing every time? Or add a consistently changing amount?
- Find the ratio between each term using division. (Divide the second term by the first, the third time by the second, etc). Does the ratio stay the same every time?