Number Patterns and Sequences

Identify the next number of students in the pattern: Alex, Jere, Alex, Jere, __

• Alex

• Jere

• Alex and Jere

• Another student

Answer explanation

The pattern is increasing by 3 each time. 12 + 3 = 15, so the next number should be 15.

What is the rule for the pattern: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15

• Add 3 to the previous number to get the next number.

• Multiply the previous number by 3 to get the next number.

• Subtract 3 from the previous number to get the next number.

• Add 6 to the previous number to get the next number.

Answer explanation

Add 3 to the previous number to get the next number.

What is the next number in the sequence: 3, 6, 9, __, 15

• 10

• 21

• 12

• 18

Answer explanation

The pattern is increasing by 3 each time. 3 + 3 = 6, 6 + 3 = 9, 9 + 3 = 12, 12 + 3 = 15. Therefore, the missing number is 12.

Analyze the relationship between the numbers of apples Alex and Jere have picked each day: 1, 3, 6, 10, 15

• The relationship between the numbers of apples is that each number is the sum of the previous number and the next consecutive number.

• The numbers of apples picked each day are all odd numbers.

• The pattern is formed by multiplying each number by 2.

• The relationship between the numbers is that they represent the Fibonacci sequence.

Answer explanation

The relationship between the numbers in the pattern is that each number is the sum of the previous number and the next consecutive number.

During a math competition, Alex was given the following sequence to solve: 20, 25, __, 35, 40

• 22

• 28

• 30

• 45

Answer explanation

The missing number in the sequence is 30. The pattern is increasing by 5 each time, so the missing number should be 25 + 5 = 30.

What is the rule for the following sequence: 10, 20, 40, 80, 160?

• Each number is obtained by adding 10 to the previous number.

• Each number is obtained by dividing the previous number by 2.

• Each number is obtained by multiplying the previous number by 2.

• Each number is obtained by subtracting 10 from the previous number.

Answer explanation

Each number is obtained by multiplying the previous number by 2.

Help Jere and Alex solve the following pattern: 12, 9, 6, __, 0

• 4

• 2

• 8

• 3

Answer explanation

The pattern is decreasing by 3 each time: 12 - 3 = 9, 9 - 3 = 6, 6 - 3 = 3, 3 - 3 = 0. Therefore, the missing number is 3.

During a math competition, Alex and Jere were given a series of numbers to analyze. The numbers in the pattern are: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32. What is the relationship between these numbers?

• Each number is obtained by multiplying the previous number by 2.

• The numbers are prime numbers.

• Each number is obtained by adding 2 to the previous number.

• The pattern follows a Fibonacci sequence.

Answer explanation

Each number is obtained by multiplying the previous number by 2.

What is the next number in the sequence: 1, 4, 9, 16, __

• 25

• 49

• 20

• 36

Answer explanation

The pattern is the squares of consecutive numbers. 1^2 = 1, 2^2 = 4, 3^2 = 9, 4^2 = 16. Therefore, the next number is 5^2 = 25.

What is the rule for the following sequence: 5 apples, 4 apples, 3 apples, 2 apples, 1 apple?

• Remove 1 apple

• Decrease by 1 apple

• Add 1 apple

• Subtract 1 apple

Answer explanation

The rule for the pattern is to decrease each number by 10 to get the next number in the sequence.