Number sequences: word problems

Key Notes :

🌈 What is a Number Sequence?

  • A number sequence is a list of numbers arranged in a special order or pattern 🔁
  • Example: 2, 4, 6, 8, __ (The pattern is +2)

🔍 Types of Number Sequences

  • ➕ Increasing sequence: Numbers go up (5, 10, 15, 20…) ⬆️
  • ➖ Decreasing sequence: Numbers go down (50, 45, 40…) ⬇️
  • 🔁 Repeating sequence: Pattern repeats (2, 4, 2, 4…)
  • ✖️ Multiplying sequence: Multiply by the same number (2, 4, 8, 16…)
  • ➗ Dividing sequence: Divide by the same number (64, 32, 16…)

📘 Number Sequences in Word Problems

  • Word problems describe a situation where numbers follow a pattern 🧠
  • You must read carefully to find the rule 🔎

🧠 Steps to Solve Sequence Word Problems

1️⃣ Read the problem carefully 📖
2️⃣ Write the numbers in order ✍️
3️⃣ Find the pattern (add, subtract, multiply, divide) 🔍
4️⃣ Apply the rule to find the missing number(s) ✅

🧩 Clue Words to Look For

  • ➕ each day, every time, more than, increase
  • ➖ less than, left, decrease
  • ✖️ double, triple, times
  • ➗ half, shared equally

🧮 Example

📗 Word Problem:
Ravi saves ₹10 on Monday, ₹20 on Tuesday, ₹30 on Wednesday.
How much will he save on Thursday? 🤔

✔️ Pattern: +10 each day
✔️ Answer: ₹40 💰

⭐ Tips for Students

  • 🎯 Always check how numbers change
  • 🖍️ Use tables or number lines to see patterns
  • 🔄 Check your answer by continuing the pattern

🎉 Remember!

👉 Number sequences help us predict what comes next
👉 They make word problems easy and fun 😄🎊

Learn with an example

1) Cindy is picking berries in the berry patch. She picks 64 berries from the first bush, 72 berries from the second bush, 80 berries from the third bush, and 88 berries from the fourth bush. If this pattern continues.

How many berries will Cindy pick from the fifth bush?

 ______berries

First, look for a pattern.

Add 8 to find the next number:

Cindy will pick 96 berries from the fifth bush.

2) Jenny is drawing stars in her notebook. She draws 3 stars on the first page, 5 stars on the second page, 8 stars on the third page, and 12 stars on the fourth page. If this pattern continues.

How many stars will Jenny draw on the fifth page?

 _________stars

First, look for a pattern. Notice how the amount increases by 1 each time.

Add 5 to find the next number:

Jenny will draw 17 stars on the fifth page.

3) The teacher gave 110 gold stickers to the first student, 122 gold stickers to the second student, 134 gold stickers to the third student, and 146 gold stickers to the fourth student. If this pattern continues.

How many gold stickers will the teacher give to the fifth student?

 _______gold stickers

First, look for a pattern.

Add 12 to find the next number:

The teacher will give 158 gold stickers to the fifth student.

Let’s practice!🖊️