Mastering Number
Patterns
Discovering the Hidden Rules of
Sequences
Quick Recall: Lesson 5
QUICK REVIEW
Before we start patterns, let's refresh our brains
on exponents and scientific notation from our
last lesson.
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Key point
Remember: x⁰ is always 1, and negative
exponents like 2⁻¹ mean 1/2¹.
Lesson 5 Review: Part 1
Exponent Laws
1. a² × a⁴ = a⁽²⁺⁴⁾ = a⁶ Numbers & Forms
1 2. x¹⁰ ÷ x² = x⁽¹⁰⁻²⁾ = x⁸ 2 1. 10³ in normal form = 1000
3. (y³)² = y⁽³ˣ²⁾ = y⁶ 2. 2⁻¹ as a fraction = 1/2
4. 5⁰ = 1
Lesson 5 Review: Part 2
QUICK REVIEW
Scientific Notation & Logic
1. 500 = 5 × 10²
2. 0.01 = 1 × 10⁻²
3. (2²)² = 4² = 16
4. 3² + 1 = 9 + 1 = 10
What is a Pattern?
Have you ever noticed how the house numbers on one
side of a street usually go 2, 4, 6, 8? This is a linear
sequence.
Today, we learn to predict exactly what comes next in
any list of numbers by finding the 'secret rule'.
Linear: Finding the Next Term
WORKED EXAMPLES
Find the next term by identifying the constant addition or subtraction.
4. 1, 5, 9... Next is 13 (+4). 5. 100, 90, 80... Next
is 70 (-10).
1. 2, 4, 6, 8... Next is 10 (+2). 2. 10, 20, 30...
Next is 40 (+10). 3. 5, 8, 11... Next is 14 (+3).
More Next Term Examples
Continuing the Pattern
1. 20, 15, 10... Next is 5 (Subtract 5).
2. -2, 0, 2, 4... Next is 6 (Add 2).
3. 0.5, 1.0, 1.5... Next is 2.0 (Add 0.5).
4. 7, 14, 21... Next is 28 (Add 7).
5. 12, 10, 8... Next is 6 (Subtract 2).
The Constant Difference
KEY CONCEPT
In a linear sequence, the amount we add or subtract is called the Constant Difference (d).
It stays the same throughout the whole list.
Positive Difference Negative/Decimal
1. 3, 6, 9 (d = 3) 1. 50, 40, 30 (d = -10)
2. 10, 15, 20 (d = 5) 2. 2, 2.5, 3 (d = 0.5)
3. 1, 2, 3 (d = 1) 3. -5, -10, -15 (d = -5)
4. 4, 8, 12 (d = 4) 4. 11, 22, 33 (d = 11)
5. 100, 200, 300 (d = 100) 5. 9, 7, 5 (d = -2)
Geometric Sequences
NEW CONCEPT
Sometimes numbers don't add; they multiply
or divide. This is a Geometric Sequence. The
number we multiply by is called the Constant
Ratio (r).
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Example
In 2, 4, 8, 16... we multiply by 2. The next
term is 16 × 2 = 32.
Geometric Worked Examples
1. 3, 9, 27... Multiply by 3. Next: 81.
4. 1, 5, 25... Multiply by 5. Next: 125.
2. 10, 100, 1000... Multiply by 10. Next:
1 2 5. 100, 10, 1... Divide by 10. Next: 0.1.
10000.
6. 2, 6, 18... Multiply by 3. Next: 54.
3. 80, 40, 20... Divide by 2. Next: 10.
Geometric: Final Examples
More Ratios
1. 5, 10, 20... Next is 40 (×2).
2. -2, -4, -8... Next is -16 (×2).
3. 1, 4, 16... Next is 64 (×4).
4. 1000, 500, 250... Next is 125 (÷2).
Calculating a Specific Term (Tₙ)
ADVANCED RULE
If you need the 100th term, you don't want to list them all! We use a formula where n is the
position of the term.
Finding Tₙ: Worked Examples
1. Sequence 2, 4, 6... 2. Sequence 5, 10, 3. Sequence 3, 6, 9...
Find 10th term. 15... Find 5th term. Find 100th term.
1 2 3
Rule is Tₙ = 2n. Rule is Tₙ = 5n. Rule is Tₙ = 3n.
T₁₀ = 2 × 10 = 20. T₅ = 5 × 5 = 25. T₁₀₀ = 3 × 100 = 300.
More Tₙ Examples
1. 10, 20, 30... (8th term): 10 × 8 = 80.
2. 1, 2, 3... (50th term): 1 × 50 = 50.
3. 4, 8, 12... (5th term): 4 × 5 = 20.
4. 7, 14, 21... (10th term): 7 × 10 = 70.
5. 100, 200, 300... (4th term): 100 × 4 = 400.
6. 0, 1, 2... (10th term): Position 10 is 9.
7. 11, 22, 33... (5th term): 11 × 5 = 55.
Finding the General Rule
KEY CONCEPT
To write the rule Tₙ = an + b:
1. Find the difference (a).
2. Multiply a by 1 (the first position).
3. Find what you need to add or subtract to get the
actual first term (b).
General Rule: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Find Step 2: Adjust Step 3: Write Rule
Difference If n=1, 2(1) = 2. But our first Combine them: Tₙ = 2n + 1.
For 3, 5, 7... the difference is term is 3. We need to add 1.
2. So we start with 2n.
Practice Rules: Part 1
1. 5, 9, 13... Diff 4. 4(1)=4. +1=5. Rule: 4n + 1 1. 10, 20, 30... Diff 10. 10(1)=10. Rule: 10n
2. 2, 5, 8... Diff 3. 3(1)=3. -1=2. Rule: 3n - 1 2. 6, 11, 16... Diff 5. 5(1)=5. +1=6. Rule: 5n + 1
Practice Rules: Part 2
1. 1, 2, 3... Rule: n
2. 0, 2, 4... Rule: 2n - 2
3. 10, 12, 14... Rule: 2n + 8
4. 5, 8, 11... Rule: 3n + 2
5. 100, 101, 102... Rule: n + 99
Decreasing Sequences
When numbers go down, the difference is negative.
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Example
For 10, 8, 6... Diff = -2. Rule: Tₙ = -2n + 12.
Decreasing Rules Practice
1. 20, 15, 10... Rule: -5n + 25
2. 100, 90, 80... Rule: -10n + 110
3. 5, 4, 3... Rule: -n + 6
4. 0, -1, -2... Rule: -n + 1
5. 7, 4, 1... Rule: -3n + 10
Final Decreasing Examples
1. 12, 10, 8... Rule: -2n + 14
2. 50, 40, 30... Rule: -10n + 60
3. 15, 12, 9... Rule: -3n + 18
4. 1, 0, -1... Rule: -n + 2
Finding the Term Position
If you know the value and the rule, you can find the position (n) by solving an equation.
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Example
Rule Tₙ = 2n. Which term is 20? Set 2n = 20. Solve: n = 10. It is the 10th term.
Position Examples: Part 1
2. Tₙ = 5n + 1. Which term is 21? 3. Tₙ = 3n - 1. Which term is 14?
5n + 1 = 21 3n - 1 = 14
1 2
5n = 20 3n = 15
n=4 n=5
Video: Number Patterns Visualized
Watch how patterns grow visually to understand why the rules work the way they do.
Position Examples: Final Set
1. 10n = 100 → n = 10 1. 6n = 60 → n = 10
2. n + 5 = 15 → n = 10 2. 5n - 5 = 45 → n = 10
3. 4n = 16 → n = 4 3. 100n = 500 → n = 5
4. 2n + 2 = 10 → n = 4