Year 6 Maths: Number Patterns

What are Number Patterns?

Hello, Year 6! Today, we’re going to learn about number patterns. A number pattern is a sequence of numbers that follow a specific rule. Understanding number patterns can help you with many areas in maths, like addition, subtraction, and even algebra!

Key Rules of Number Patterns

1. Identify the Rule: Every pattern has a rule. This rule tells us how to get from one number to the next.
2. Common Differences: In some patterns, the numbers increase or decrease by the same amount. This is called a common difference. For example, in the pattern 2, 4, 6, 8, the common difference is 2.
3. Multiplication Patterns: Sometimes, the rule involves multiplying. For example, in the pattern 3, 6, 12, 24, the numbers double each time.
4. Skip Counting: This is when you count by a certain number, like counting by 5s (5, 10, 15, 20) or counting by 10s (10, 20, 30, 40).

Tips and Tricks

• Look for Patterns: When you see a list of numbers, try to figure out how they are changing. Are they getting bigger or smaller? By how much?
• Write It Down: Sometimes, writing the numbers down helps you see the pattern better.
• Practice, Practice, Practice: The more you work with number patterns, the easier they become!

Examples

1. Adding Pattern:
   • 5, 10, 15, 20…
   • Rule: Add 5 each time.
2. Subtracting Pattern:
   • 30, 25, 20, 15…
   • Rule: Subtract 5 each time.
3. Multiplying Pattern:
   • 1, 2, 4, 8, 16…
   • Rule: Multiply by 2 each time.
4. Skip Counting:
   • 7, 14, 21, 28…
   • Rule: Add 7 each time.

Questions

Now, let’s see how well you can identify number patterns! Here are some questions for you to practice with.

Easy Level Questions

1. What is the next number in the pattern: 1, 2, 3, ___?
2. What is the next number in the pattern: 5, 10, 15, ___?
3. What is the next number in the pattern: 2, 4, 6, ___?
4. What is the next number in the pattern: 10, 20, 30, ___?
5. What is the next number in the pattern: 3, 6, 9, ___?
6. What is the next number in the pattern: 0, 2, 4, ___?
7. What is the next number in the pattern: 1, 3, 5, ___?
8. What is the next number in the pattern: 8, 6, 4, ___?
9. What is the next number in the pattern: 12, 11, 10, ___?
10. What is the next number in the pattern: 15, 30, 45, ___?

Medium Level Questions

11. What is the next number in the pattern: 2, 5, 8, ___?
12. What is the next number in the pattern: 4, 8, 12, ___?
13. What is the next number in the pattern: 5, 15, 25, ___?
14. What is the next number in the pattern: 7, 14, 21, ___?
15. What is the next number in the pattern: 1, 4, 9, ___?
16. What is the next number in the pattern: 16, 14, 12, ___?
17. What is the next number in the pattern: 3, 6, 12, ___?
18. What is the next number in the pattern: 1, 2, 4, 8, ___?
19. What is the next number in the pattern: 10, 20, 15, 25, ___?
20. What is the next number in the pattern: 100, 90, 80, ___?

Hard Level Questions

21. What is the next number in the pattern: 2, 6, 12, 20, ___?
22. What is the next number in the pattern: 5, 10, 20, 40, ___?
23. What is the next number in the pattern: 1, 3, 6, 10, ___?
24. What is the next number in the pattern: 15, 30, 60, ___?
25. What is the next number in the pattern: 7, 14, 28, ___?
26. What is the next number in the pattern: 2, 3, 5, 7, ___?
27. What is the next number in the pattern: 100, 95, 90, ___?
28. What is the next number in the pattern: 50, 45, 40, ___?
29. What is the next number in the pattern: 3, 9, 27, ___?
30. What is the next number in the pattern: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, ___?

Answers and Explanations

Easy Level Answers

1. 4 (Add 1)
2. 20 (Add 5)
3. 8 (Add 2)
4. 40 (Add 10)
5. 12 (Add 3)
6. 6 (Add 2)
7. 7 (Add 2)
8. 2 (Subtract 2)
9. 9 (Subtract 1)
10. 60 (Add 15)

Medium Level Answers

11. 11 (Add 3)
12. 16 (Add 4)
13. 35 (Add 10)
14. 28 (Add 7)
15. 16 (Add 7)
16. 10 (Subtract 2)
17. 24 (Multiply by 2)
18. 16 (Multiply by 2)
19. 30 (Add 5)
20. 70 (Subtract 10)

Hard Level Answers

21. 30 (Add 8, then 6, then 8)
22. 80 (Multiply by 2)
23. 15 (Add 1, then 2, then 3)
24. 120 (Multiply by 2)
25. 56 (Multiply by 2)
26. 11 (Add 4)
27. 85 (Subtract 5)
28. 35 (Subtract 5)
29. 81 (Multiply by 3)
30. 32 (Multiply by 2)

I hope you enjoyed learning about number patterns! Keep practicing, and you’ll get even better!