How to play Number Patterns
A list of numbers follows a rule. Work out the rule and say which number comes next.
The rules, step by step
- You are shown a row of numbers with the last one missing, like 2, 4, 6, 8, ?
- Look at how each number changes to the next. Does it go up by the same amount each time? Does it double? Does it follow some other rule?
- Choose the number you think comes next.
- After each answer you see an explanation, so you learn the rule even if you were wrong.
Some examples
2, 4, 6, 8, ? Each number is 2 more than the one before. The answer is 10.
1, 2, 4, 8, ? Each number is double the one before. The answer is 16.
1, 4, 9, 16, ? These are 1 times 1, 2 times 2, 3 times 3, 4 times 4. The answer is 5 times 5, which is 25.
Tips
- First work out the difference between each pair of neighbours. If it is always the same, you have the rule.
- If the differences keep growing, try multiplying.
- Say the numbers out loud. Sometimes a pattern is easier to hear than to see.