Use a rule to complete a number sequence

Key Notes :

🌈 What is a Number Sequence?

  • A number sequence is a list of numbers arranged in a specific order 📊
  • The numbers follow a rule or pattern 🔁

🧠 What is a Rule?

A rule tells us how the numbers change from one term to the next ➡️

Common rules include:

  • Add a number ➕
  • Subtract a number ➖
  • Multiply by a number ✖️
  • Divide by a number ➗

🔍 How to Find the Rule

  1. Look at the numbers carefully 👀
  2. Find the difference between numbers (What is added or subtracted?) ➕➖
  3. Check if numbers are multiplied or divided ✖️➗
  4. Make sure the same rule works for all numbers

🧩 Types of Number Sequences

  • Increasing sequence: numbers go up ⬆️
  • Decreasing sequence: numbers go down ⬇️
  • Skip counting: count by 2s, 5s, 10s, etc. ⏭️
  • Mixed patterns: more than one rule 🔀

✏️ Examples

  • 2, 4, 6, 8, __
    👉 Rule: Add 2 ➕
  • 20, 15, 10, __
    👉 Rule: Subtract 5 ➖
  • 3, 6, 12, __
    👉 Rule: Multiply by 2 ✖️

🎯 Steps to Complete a Sequence

  1. Find the rule 🔍
  2. Apply the rule to the last number ➡️
  3. Write the missing number ✏️

⭐ Helpful Tips

  • Always check the pattern twice 🔁
  • Use a number line if needed 📏
  • Start with simple rules first 😊

🎉 Remember!

👉 Every number sequence has a rule
👉 Finding the rule makes completing the sequence easy and fun! 😄✨

Learn with an example

1)What is the next number in this pattern?

Rule: multiply by 4, then subtract 4

2,   4,   12,   44,   …

Rule: multiply by 4, then subtract 4

Use the rule to find the next number in the pattern. Multiply 44 by 4, then subtract 4.

(44 × 4) − 4 = 172

The next number in the pattern is 172.

The pattern is:

2,   4,   12,   44,   172

2)What is the next number in this pattern?

Rule: multiply by 4, then subtract 2

1,   2,   6,   22,   …

Rule: multiply by 4, then subtract 2

Use the rule to find the next number in the pattern. Multiply 22 by 4, then subtract 2.

(22 × 4) − 2 = 86

The next number in the pattern is 86.

The pattern is:

1,   2,   6,   22,   86

3)What is the next number in this pattern?

Rule: multiply by 2, then add 2

2,   6,   14,   30,   62,   126,   …

Rule: multiply by 2, then add 2

Use the rule to find the next number in the pattern. Multiply 126 by 2, then add 2.

(126 × 2) + 2 = 254

The next number in the pattern is 254.

The pattern is:

2,   6,   14,   30,   62,   126,   254

Let’s practice!