Patterns & Sequences
Order and arrange combinations of mathematical objects in patterns and sequences
What a learner can do afterwards
- Continue a repeating pattern of shapes or colours
- Describe the rule for a given sequence of objects
- Create own patterns and sequences using mathematical objects
1 · Read
A pattern is a group of shapes, colours or objects that repeat in a rule you can guess. Once you know the rule, you can guess what comes next.
Leo lines up beads on a string: red, blue, red, blue, red, blue. The rule is simple: red, then blue, over and over. Leo can guess the next bead without looking: red.
To find the rule, look for the smallest group of things that keeps repeating. Say it out loud, like 'red, blue, red, blue', and the rule becomes easy to spot.
A pattern repeats by a rule, so once you spot the rule you can continue it or make your own.
More to read
Patterns that grow
Look at the colours or shapes. First find the part that repeats. That short part is called the unit. Once you see the unit, you can guess what comes next.
Try it with cubes on your desk. Make red, blue, red, blue. Say the colours out loud as you point. You will hear the repeat and know that red comes again.
Generate patterns
Numbers can make patterns too. Count by twos and you get 2, 4, 6, 8. Each step adds the same amount. That steady step is the rule.
Say the rule in your own words. Then use it to predict. If the rule is add 5, then 5, 10, 15 comes next as 20. Check by adding again.
Place-value patterns
Place value helps with big patterns. Tens grow fast and ones grow slow. Watch which digit changes.
Try 5, 10, 15, 20. The ones flip between 5 and 0 while the tens climb. Spotting that flip helps you predict 25 next.
13.2 Arithmetic Sequences
Some patterns grow by adding. Look at how much is added each time. If it is always the same, you found the rule.
Use the rule to keep going. Add carefully and write each new number. Then look back and check that each jump matches.
Explore more
2 · Watch
En anglaisTake it off screen
Where it sits
Learn first
Nothing; this is a starting point.
Optional connections
This opens up
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
18 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.