A number pattern follows a rule, such as add 7 or multiply by 2. To find a missing number, look at how each number changes to the next.
Two patterns can be compared. If one pattern adds 3 (0, 3, 6, 9) and another adds 6 (0, 6, 12, 18), each number in the second is double the matching number in the first. Spotting links like this helps you predict numbers far along the pattern.
Worked example
What is the missing number? 4, 26, 48, 70, ☐
- Find the rule: 26 − 4 = 22, so add 22.
- 70 + 22 = 92.
Answer:92
Key words
- term
- one number in a pattern
- rule
- what you do to get the next term
- predict
- work out a term without listing them all
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: 5.OA.B.3