Number Patterns -starter task

A sequence is described by the rule :

Begin with '2' then add '3' to the preceding term to get the next term.

List the first four terms of the sequence.

• 2, 4, 6, 8

• 2, 5, 8, 11

• 3, 5, 7, 9

• 3, 6, 9, 12

Answer explanation

The sequence starts with '2'. Adding '3' gives the next term: 2 + 3 = 5. Continuing, 5 + 3 = 8, and 8 + 3 = 11. Thus, the first four terms are 2, 5, 8, 11, which matches the correct answer choice.

Write down the next term in the number sequence below.

17, 14, 11, 8, 5, . . .

Answer explanation

The sequence decreases by 3 each time: 17-3=14, 14-3=11, 11-3=8, 8-3=5.

Continuing this pattern, 5-3=2.

What is the missing number in this sequence?

1 2 3 _ 5 6 7 8 9

Answer explanation

The sequence is counting up from 1 to 9.

The missing number is 4, which fits in the sequence between 3 and 5.

What is the missing number in this sequence?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 _ 9

Answer explanation

The sequence is counting up from 1 to 9.

The missing number between 7 and 9 is 8.

A sequence has 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14. The rule for the sequence is;

• Add 1

• Add 2

Answer explanation

The sequence increases by 2 each time: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14. Therefore, the rule for the sequence is to 'Add 2', making this the correct choice.

What is the next number in this sequence 4, 8, 12, ......, 20?

• 10

• 16

• 18

Answer explanation

The sequence increases by 4 each time: 4, 8, 12. The next number after 12 is 16 (12 + 4). Thus, the correct answer is 16.

The rule for this sequence 18, 15, 12, 9, 6, 3, 0 is;

• Add 3

• Plus 3

• Minus 3

Answer explanation

The sequence decreases by 3 each time: 18 - 3 = 15, 15 - 3 = 12, and so on. Therefore, the correct rule is 'Minus 3', not 'Add 3' or 'Plus 3'.

12, ..........., 32, 42, 52. The missing number is;

• 22

• 23

• 24

Answer explanation

The sequence increases by 10 each time: 12 + 10 = 22, 22 + 10 = 32, 32 + 10 = 42, and 42 + 10 = 52. Thus, the missing number is 22.

103, 107, 111, 115, 119, 123. The rule for this sequence is;

• Add 100

• Add 104

• Add 4

• Minus 4

Answer explanation

The sequence increases by 4 each time: 103 + 4 = 107, 107 + 4 = 111, and so on. Therefore, the correct rule for this sequence is to 'Add 4'.

150, 155, 160, 165, .............. . The missing number is;

• 170

• 175

• 180

Answer explanation

The sequence increases by 5 each time: 150 + 5 = 155, 155 + 5 = 160, 160 + 5 = 165. Continuing this pattern, 165 + 5 equals 170, which is the missing number.