Number Series Patterns Flashcards

In a visual number pattern showing 2, 4, 8, 16, what operation determines the next number?

Answer: Multiplying by 2 each time

Each number is doubled (multiplied by 2), creating a geometric sequence.

A sequence shows shapes with 1, 3, 6, 10 dots. What pattern determines the next count?

Answer: Triangular numbers — each adds one more than the previous addition (1, +2, +3, +4, +5)

These are triangular numbers where the difference between terms increases by 1 each time.

A visual sequence alternates between adding 3 and subtracting 1. Starting at 2: 2, 5, 4, 7, 6. What comes next?

Answer: 9 (adding 3 to 6)

The pattern alternates: +3, -1, +3, -1. After 6 (which was -1), the next step is +3, giving 9.

What strategy helps identify complex number sequence patterns?

Answer: Calculate the differences between consecutive terms, then check if those differences form their own pattern

Finding the first differences (and sometimes second differences) between terms often reveals the underlying pattern.

A sequence shows: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8. What comes next?

Answer: 13 (each number is the sum of the two before it)

This is the Fibonacci sequence where each term equals the sum of the two preceding terms: 5 + 8 = 13.

Visual tiles show 4, 9, 16, 25. What pattern connects these numbers?

Answer: They are perfect squares: 2², 3², 4², 5²

Each number is a perfect square: 4=2², 9=3², 16=4², 25=5². The next would be 36=6².