Introduction to Number Patterns

Hello, Year 5! Today, we are going to explore something very exciting in Maths: number patterns. A number pattern is a sequence of numbers that follow a specific rule. Understanding these patterns helps us see how numbers relate to each other and can make solving problems easier.

What is a Number Pattern?

A number pattern is like a puzzle! It’s a list of numbers that follow a certain rule. For example, in the pattern 2, 4, 6, 8, each number is 2 more than the previous number.

Examples of Number Patterns

  1. Adding Patterns:
    • 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 (Here, we add 2 each time).
    • Rule: Start at 1, then add 2.
  2. Subtracting Patterns:
    • 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 (Here, we subtract 2 each time).
    • Rule: Start at 10, then subtract 2.
  3. Multiplying Patterns:
    • 3, 6, 12, 24 (Here, we multiply by 2 each time).
    • Rule: Start at 3, then multiply by 2.
  4. Dividing Patterns:
    • 64, 32, 16, 8 (Here, we divide by 2 each time).
    • Rule: Start at 64, then divide by 2.

Key Rules for Finding Patterns

  1. Look for a Rule: Check how the numbers change from one to the next.
  2. Decide the Operation: Is it adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing?
  3. Continue the Pattern: Once you find the rule, you can predict the next numbers!

Tips and Tricks

  • Write It Down: Sometimes writing down the numbers helps you see the pattern better.
  • Use Counters: If you’re stuck, using physical objects like counters can help you visualise the pattern.
  • Draw a Number Line: A number line can also show how numbers increase or decrease.

Questions to Practice

Easy Level Questions

  1. What are the next two numbers in the pattern: 5, 10, 15, ___, ___?
  2. Continue the pattern: 2, 4, 6, ___, ___.
  3. What comes next: 1, 2, 3, 4, ___?
  4. Fill in the blanks: 7, 14, 21, ___, ___.
  5. What is the next number: 20, 18, 16, ___, ___?
  6. Complete the pattern: 3, 6, 9, ___, ___.
  7. What are the next two numbers: 0, 5, 10, ___, ___?
  8. Continue this pattern: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, ___, ___.
  9. What comes next: 12, 10, 8, ___, ___?
  10. Fill in the pattern: 4, 8, 12, ___, ___.

Medium Level Questions

  1. What are the next two numbers in the pattern: 15, 30, 45, ___, ___?
  2. Continue the pattern: 5, 10, 20, ___, ___.
  3. What comes next in this pattern: 2, 5, 8, 11, ___?
  4. Fill in the blanks: 100, 90, 80, ___, ___.
  5. What is the next number: 1, 4, 9, 16, ___?
  6. Complete the pattern: 8, 16, 24, ___, ___.
  7. What are the next two numbers: 50, 40, 30, ___, ___?
  8. Continue this pattern: 2, 4, 8, 16, ___, ___.
  9. What comes next: 9, 18, 27, ___, ___?
  10. Fill in the pattern: 3, 6, 12, 24, ___, ___.

Hard Level Questions

  1. What are the next two numbers in the pattern: 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, ___, ___?
  2. Continue the pattern: 5, 11, 17, 23, ___, ___.
  3. What comes next in this pattern: 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, ___?
  4. Fill in the blanks: 100, 95, 90, 85, ___, ___.
  5. What is the next number: 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, ___?
  6. Complete the pattern: 2, 6, 12, 20, ___, ___.
  7. What are the next two numbers: 10, 20, 30, 50, ___, ___?
  8. Continue this complex pattern: 10, 20, 15, 30, 25, ___, ___.
  9. What comes next: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ___, ___?
  10. Fill in the pattern: 4, 16, 36, 64, ___, ___.

Answers and Explanations

Easy Level Answers

  1. 20, 25 (Adding 5).
  2. 8, 10 (Adding 2).
  3. 5 (Adding 1).
  4. 28, 35 (Adding 7).
  5. 14, 12 (Subtracting 2).
  6. 12, 15 (Adding 3).
  7. 15, 20 (Adding 5).
  8. 8, 13 (Adding 5).
  9. 6, 4 (Subtracting 2).
  10. 16, 20 (Adding 4).

Medium Level Answers

  1. 60, 75 (Adding 15).
  2. 30, 40 (Adding 10).
  3. 14 (Adding 3).
  4. 70, 60 (Subtracting 10).
  5. 25 (Adding 9).
  6. 32, 40 (Adding 8).
  7. 20, 10 (Subtracting 10).
  8. 32, 64 (Multiplying by 2).
  9. 36, 45 (Adding 9).
  10. 48, 60 (Adding 12).

Hard Level Answers

  1. 16, 22 (Increasing by 1, then 2, then 3).
  2. 29, 35 (Adding 6).
  3. 17 (Adding 5).
  4. 80, 75 (Subtracting 5).
  5. 21 (Adding 6).
  6. 30, 42 (Adding 12).
  7. 70, 80 (Adding 10).
  8. 40, 35 (Alternating between adding and subtracting).
  9. 13, 21 (Adding previous two).
  10. 100, 144 (Perfect squares).

Feel free to work on these questions, and remember to look for the patterns! Happy investigating!