CHAPTER 6: PATTERNS, FUNCTIONS AND ALGEBRA

TOPIC: NUMERIC AND GEOMETRIC PATTERNS

In this chapter, we will revise the number patterns that you studied in Grade 8. These patterns
included those with a constant difference between consecutive terms, a constant ratio
between consecutive terms and other patterns which did not have a constant difference or
ratio. The general rule for a number pattern with a constant difference was discussed as well.
In Grade 9, we will explore general rules for the other types of number patterns.
However, before going any further, let’s revise some important concepts from last year.
Consider the number pattern (or sequence) 3 ; 5 ; 7 ; 9 ; ……………….
We can describe this pattern as follows:
Start with the number 3; add 2 to give 5; then add 2 to 5 to give 7.
Continue in this way by adding 2 to each previous number.
Each number in the sequence is called a term. The first term is 3, the second term is 5, the
third term is 7 and so forth.
We can name the terms as T1  3 , T2  5 , T3  7 and so forth.

Note: T2 5

This number represents This is the actual

the position of the term in second term in the
the sequence. The position of sequence. It lies in
the term is the second position. the second position.
T4  9 means that the number 9 lies in the 4th position in the sequence. It is the 4th term in
the sequence.
The rule in words for this sequence is:
Start with 3. Add 2 to 3 to get 5. Continue adding 2 to each previous term. By adding 2 each
time, we obtain more terms in the sequence called consecutive terms.
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7

Now think about this!

What is the 6th term? The 6th term is 13. The position of 13 is 6th in the sequence.
Which term is 15? 15 lies in the 7th position in the sequence. It is the 7th term.
Let’s now revise number patterns with a constant difference and then look at the other types
in more detail. The following types of number patterns will be the focus of this chapter:
 Number patterns with a constant difference between terms;
 Number patterns with a constant ratio between terms;
 Other types of number patterns.
NUMBER PATTERNS WITH A CONSTANT DIFFERENCE
With these patterns, there is a constant difference between consecutive terms.
Consider the sequence 5 ; 7 ; 9 ;11; ...................
T2  T1  7  5  2
T3  T2  9  7  2
T4  T3  11  9  2

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There is a constant difference of 2 between consecutive terms. We call this constant
difference d.
The sequence is generated by adding d to each term. In this example, d  2 .
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7

It is easy to determine consecutive terms since you are adding 2 to each previous term.
Finding the 5th, 6th, 10th or even the 20th term is easy to do. However, if you are required to
determine the 100th term, this would be extremely time-consuming. Therefore we need to
find a rule which helps us do this. This rule is called the general rule for the sequence.
One way to find this general rule is to link the position of the term to the constant difference
and work from there.
Notice that in the sequence above:
T1  5  2(1)  3 where 2 is the constant difference, 1 is the position of 5 (first term) and
3 is added to keep the actual term 5.

T2  7  2(2)  3 where 2 is the constant difference, the 2 in brackets is the position of 7

(second term) and 3 is added to keep the actual term 7.
T3  9  2(3)  3 where 2 is the constant difference, the 3 in brackets is the position of 9
(third term) and 3 is added to keep the actual term 9.
We can continue to generate terms of the sequence in this way. The general rule in words
for the sequence is therefore:
Multiply the constant difference by the position of the term and add 3
Let’s continue to find terms of the sequence using this general rule:
T4  2(4)  3  11
T5  2(5)  3  13
T6  2(6)  3  15
This rule can now help us to find the 10th term or the 100th term:
T10  2(10)  3  23 T100  2(100)  3  203
Notice:
5 ; 7 ; 9 ; 11 ; 13 ; 15 ; 17 ; 19 ; 21 ; 23 ; ................. ; 203 ; ......
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 T10 T100
A table is useful for determining the general rule of a sequence with a constant difference.
Using the previous example, draw a table as follows:
The position of the term T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T10 Tn
The constant difference
multiplied by the position of 2(1) 2(2) 2(3) 2(4) 2(5) 2(10) 2(n)
term
What to do to get the actual
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
term
The actual term in the 2(n)  3
5 7 9 11 13 23
sequence
The general rule using the letter n is Tn  2n  3 where 2 represents the constant difference
and n the position of the term in the sequence. It is important to note that the value of n is
always a natural number. We say that the nth term of the sequence is Tn  2n  3 .
This general rule can now be used to determine any term of the sequence.

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For example: T9  2(9)  3  21 T30  2(30)  3  63
Let’s discuss a few more examples to make sure that you fully understand these concepts.
Example 1
6 ;10 ;14 ;18 ; ......... is a given sequence.
(a) State the rule in words. (b) What is the constant difference?
(c) Write down the next three terms. (d) Determine the general rule (nth term).
(e) Calculate the 10th term. (f) Calculate the 100th term.
(g) Which term of the sequence is equal to 242?
Solutions
(a) Start with 6. Add 4 to 6 to get 10. Continue adding 4 to each previous term to obtain
consecutive terms.
(b) T2  T1  10  6  4 T3  T2  14  10  4 T4  T3  18  14  4
d  4
(c) 6 ;10 ;14 ;18 ; 22 ; 26 ; 30 ;......... (Add 4 to each previous term)
(d) Draw a table. The constant difference is 4.
The position of the term T1 T2 T3 T4 Tn
The constant difference
multiplied by the position of 4(1) 4(2) 4(3) 4(4) 4(n)
term
What to do to get the actual
2 2 2 2 2
term
The actual term in the 4(n)  2
6 10 14 18
sequence
The nth term is Tn  4n  2
(e) Tn  4n  2
 T10  4(10)  2  42
(f) Tn  4n  2
 T100  4(100)  2  402
(g) The actual term in the sequence is 242 and we want to find its position.
Let Tn  242 where n represents the position to be determined.
Tn  4n  2
 242  4n  2
 242  2  4n
 240  4n
 60  n
 T60  242 [242 is the 60th term in the sequence]

Example 2
3 ; 8 ;13 ;18 ; ......... is a given sequence.
(a) Determine the general rule (nth term).
(b) Calculate the 24th term.
(c) Calculate the 700th term.
(d) Which term is equal to 748?

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 Solutions
(a) Draw a table. The constant difference is 5.
The position of the term T1 T2 T3 T4 Tn
The constant difference  5(1) 5(2) 5(3) 5(4) 5(n)
by the position of term
What to do to get the actual
2 2 2 2 2
term
The actual term in the 5(n)  2
3 8 13 18
sequence
The nth term is Tn  5n  2
(b) Tn  5n  2 (c) Tn  5n  2
 T5  5(24)  2  118  T700  5(700)  2  3 498
(d) Let Tn  748
Tn  5n  2
 748  5n  2
 750  5n
150  n
 T150  748

EXERCISE 1
For each of the following number patterns:
(1) State the rule in words. (2) Write down the constant difference.
(3) Write down the next three terms. (4) Determine the general rule (nth term).
(5) Calculate the 15th term. (6) Calculate the 120th term.
(a) 5 ; 7 ; 9 ;11; ........ (b) 6 ;11;16 ; 21; ........ (c) 10 ;12 ;14 ;16 ; ........
(d) 6 ; 9 ;12 ;15 ; ........ (e) 15 ; 25 ; 35 ; ....... (f) 2 ; 6 ;10 ;14 ; .......
(g) 2 ; 8 ;14 ; 20 ; ....... (h) 6 ;10 ;14 ;18 ; ....... (i) 6 ;15 ; 24 ; 33 ; .......
(j) 2 ; 0 ;  2 ;  4 ; ....... (k) 10 ; 7 ; 4 ;1; ........ (l) 18 ;15 ;12 ; ........
(m) 9 ; 4 ;  1;  6 ; ........ (n) 7 ;  11;  15 ; ........ (o) 6 ;  11;  16 ; ........
(p) 12 ;  6 ; 0 ; 6 ; ........ (q) 2 ;  8 ;  18 ; ....... (r) 10 ; 9 ; 8 ; 7 ; ........
(s) 1 12 ; 3 12 ; 5 12 ; .... (t) 1 ;1 1 ; 2 1 ; 3 1
2 2 2 2
; .... (u) 1
2
; 2 ; 3 12 ; 5 ; ....
(v) 1
4
; 12 ; 34 ; 1; .... (w) 3 ; 2 ; 1 ; 0 ; ....
5 5 5
(x) 0, 25 ; 0,39 ; 0,53 ; ....
EXERCISE 2
(a) 8 ;13 ;18 ; 23 ; ......... is a given sequence.
(1) Determine the general rule (nth term). (2) Calculate the 40th term.
(3) Which term is equal to 603?
(b) 7 ;16 ; 25 ; 34 ; ......... is a given sequence.
(1) Determine the general rule (nth term). (2) Calculate the 56th term.
(3) Which term is equal to 1 798?
(c) 13 ;19 ; 25 ; 31; ......... is a given sequence.
(1) Determine the general rule (nth term). (2) Calculate the 68th term.
(3) Which term is equal to 337?
(d) 12 ;14 ;16 ;18 ; ......... is a given sequence.
(1) Determine the general rule (nth term). (2) Calculate the 80th term.
(3) Which term is equal to 810?
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(e) 1 12 ; 2 ; 2 12 ; .... is a given sequence.
(1) Determine the general rule (nth term). (2) Calculate the 70th term.
(3) Calculate the 85th term. (4) Which term equals 151?
(5) Which term is equal to 45 12 ?

NUMBER PATTERNS WITH A CONSTANT RATIO BETWEEN TERMS

Consider the sequence 2 ; 6 ;18 ; 54 ; ...................
T2 6 T3 18 T4 54
 3  3  3
T1 2 T2 6 T3 18
There is a constant ratio of 3 between consecutive terms. We call this constant ratio r.
The sequence is generated by multiplying each term by r. In this example, r  3 .
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7

If you consider the sequence 2 ; 6 ;18 ; 54 ; ......... , it is easy to determine consecutive terms
since you are multiplying each previous term by 3. Finding the 5th, 6th, 10th or even the 12th
term is easy to do. However, if you are required to determine the 100th term, this would be
extremely time-consuming. Therefore we need to find a rule which helps us do this. This rule
is called the general rule for the sequence.
One way to find this general rule is to link the position of the term to the constant ratio and
work from there.
Notice that in the sequence above:
T1  2  2 1  2  30 [ 1  30 ] T2  6  2  31
T3  18  2  32 T4  54  2  33
Notice that 2 is the first term and the constant ratio is 3. The exponent is the position of the
term minus 1.
The general rule in words for the sequence is therefore:
Multiply the first term 2 by the constant ratio 3 which has been raised to the exponent
which is the position of the term minus 1.
We can write this general rule as follows: Tn  2  3n1
where n represents the position of the term. Remember that n is a natural number.
This general rule or nth term can be used to generate any term of the sequence.
For example
T5  2  34  162 T6  2  35  486 T9  2  38  13 122

Example 3
3 ; 6 ;12 ; 24 ; ......... is a given sequence.
(a) Determine the general term (nth term). (b) Calculate the 7th term.
(c) Calculate the 20th term.
Solutions
(a) The first term is 3 and the constant ratio is 2.
T1  3  3 1  3  20 [ 1  20 ]
T2  6  3  21
T3  12  3  22

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 T4  24  3  23
The nth term is Tn  3  2n1

(b) Tn  3  2n1 (c) Tn  3  2n1

 T7  3  26  192  T20  3  219  1 572 864

EXERCISE 3
For each of the following number patterns:
(1) Write down the constant ratio. (2) Write down the next three terms.
(3) Determine the nth term. (4) Determine the 10th term.
(a) 2 ; 4 ; 8 ;16 ; ........ (b) 1; 3 ; 9 ; 27 ; ........ (c) 4 ;12 ; 36 ; ........
(d) 5 ;10 ; 20 ; 40 ; ........ (e) 2 ; 8 ; 32 ; ........ (f) 3 ; 9 ; 27 ; ........
(g) 2 ;10 ; 50 ; 250 ; ........ (h) 8 ;16 ; 32 ; ........ (i) 4 ;16 ; 64 ; ........
(j) 32 ;16 ; 8 ; 4 ; ....... (k) 2 ;  6 ;  18 ; ........ (l) 1 ;1; 2 ; 4 ; ........
2
(m) 16 ; 4 ;1; 14 ........ (n) 1
2
; 14 ; 81 ; 16
1 ; ........ (o) 28 ; 7 ; 74 ; 16
7 ........

OTHER TYPES OF NUMBER PATTERNS

These number patterns don’t have a constant difference or constant ratio.
Example 4
Consider the sequence 1; 4 ; 9 ;16 ; ...................
(a) State the rule in words. (b) Write down the next three terms.
Solutions
(a) The sequence doesn’t have a constant difference since:
T2  T1  4  1  3 T3  T2  9  4  5 T4  T3  16  9  7
The sequence doesn’t have a constant ratio since:
T2 4 T3 9 T4 16
 4  
T1 1 T2 4 T3 9
However, a different pattern can be found:
T1  1  (1) 2 T2  4  (2) 2 T3  9  (3) 2 T4  16  (4) 2
The rule in words is therefore:
Consecutive terms are obtained by squaring each term’s position in the sequence.
(b) T5  (5)2  25 T6  (6)2  36 T7  (7)2  49
You can now insert the next three terms into the sequence as follows:
1; 4 ; 9 ;16 ; 25 ; 36 ; 49 ; ..................
Alternative method
Notice that the difference between T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7
consecutive terms increases by 2 each
time.

The rule in words is: Start by adding 3 to 1 to get 4. Then add 5 to 4 to get 9. Increase the
number added each time by 2 to get consecutive terms.
You can now insert the next three terms into the sequence as follows:
1; 4 ; 9 ;16 ; 25 ; 36 ; 49 ; ..................

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 Example 5
Consider the sequence 2 ; 6 ;12 ; 20 ; ...................
(a) State the rule in words. (b) Write down the next three terms.
Solutions
(a) The sequence doesn’t have a constant difference since:
T2  T1  6  2  4 T3  T2  12  6  6 T4  T3  20  12  8
The sequence doesn’t have a constant ratio since:
T2 6 T3 12 T4 20 5
 3  2  
T1 2 T2 6 T3 12 3
However, a different pattern can be found:
T1 T2 T3 T4
What is happening is that the difference
between consecutive terms is increased by
2 each time.
Add 4 to T1 to get 6. Then add 6 to T2 to get 12.
Then add 8 to T3 to get 20.
The rule in words is therefore:
Start by adding 4 to 2 to get 6. Then add 6 to 6 to get 12. Increase the number
added each time by 2 to get consecutive terms.
T1  2 T2  2  4  6 T3  6  6  12 T4  12  8  20
(b) You can now insert the next three T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7
terms into the sequence as follows:
2 ; 6 ;12 ; 20 ; 30 ; 42 ; 56 ; ..................

General rules for number patterns with no constant difference or ratio

Number patterns with no constant difference or constant ratio can often be written in terms of
the position of the term squared. These types of number patterns are called quadratic patterns
and are studied in detail in Grade 11. However, they are interesting patterns to consider at a
basic level in Grade 9.
Example 6
3 ; 6 ;11;18 ; ......... is a given sequence.
(a) Determine the general term (nth term). (b) Calculate the 150th term.
Solutions
(a) The rule in words for this sequence is:
T1 T2 T3 T4
Start by adding 3 to 3 to get 6. Then add 5
to 6 to get 11. Increase the number added
each time by 2 to get consecutive terms.
To get the nth term of this type of sequence,
work with the position squared and take it from there.
T1  3  (1) 2  2 [square position 1 and add 2 to get 3]
T2  6  (2) 2  2 [square position 2 and add 2 to get 6]
T3  11  (3) 2  2 [square position 3 and add 2 to get 11]
T4  18  (4) 2  2 [square position 4 and add 2 to get 18]
The nth term is Tn  n 2  2

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 (b) Tn  n 2  2
 T150  (150) 2  2  22 502

EXERCISE 4
For each of the following sequences, determine the general rule (nth term) and hence the
100th term.
(a) 1; 4 ; 9 ;16 ;......... (b) 2 ; 5 ;10 ;17 ; ..... (c) 4 ; 7 ;12 ;19 ; .....
(d) 5 ; 8 ;13 ; 20 ; .... (e) 0 ; 3 ; 8 ;15 ; .... (f) 1; 2 ; 7 ;14 ; ....
(g) 2 ; 8 ;18 ; 32 ; .... (h) 3 ;12 ; 27 ; 48 ; .... (i) 4 ; 9 ;16 ; 25 ; ....
(j) 0 ;1; 4 ; 9 ;......... (k) 1
2
; 2 ; 92 ; 8 ;......... (l) 1
4
;1; 94 ; 4 ;.........

GEOMETRIC PATTERNS
Geometric patterns are number patterns represented diagrammatically.

Example 7
Consider the diagram made up of black dots.
(a) How many dots are there in figure 1, 2 and 3?
(b) How many dots are there in figure 4?
(Draw a picture)
(c) Determine the general rule to find the number
of dots in the nth figure.
(d) How many dots are there in the 100th figure?
(e) Which figure will contain 121 dots?
Solutions
(a) There are 5 dots in figure 1.
There are 9 dots in figure 2.
There are 13 dots in figure 3.
(b) There are 17 dots in figure 4.
(c) The number pattern is:
5 ; 9 ; 13 ; 17 ; ……
There is a constant difference of 4. Draw a table.
The position of the term T1 T2 T3 T4 Tn
The constant difference  4(1) 4(2) 4(3) 4(4) 4(n)
by the position of term
What to do to get the actual
1 1 1 1 1
term
The actual term in the 4(n)  1
5 9 13 17
sequence
The nth term is Tn  4n  1
(d) Tn  4n  1
 T100  4(100)  1  401
There are 401 dots in the 100th figure.
(e) Tn  4n  1
121  4n  1
120  4n
 30  n
The 30th figure will contain 121 dots.
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EXERCISE 5
(a) The goal post nets in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil were
designed using hexagonal shapes. Consider the following designs
made up of hexagons.

1 2 3
(1) How many hexagons are there in design 4, 5 and 6?
(2) Determine the number of hexagons in design 200.
(3) Which design will have 450 hexagons?
(b) Designs using matchsticks are shown below.

Determine:
(1) the number of matches in design 4, 5 and 6.
(2) the number of matches in design n.
(3) the number of matches in design 200.
(4) which design will contain 601 matches.
(c) Ethnic designs using circles and black oval discs are shown below.

Determine:
(1) the number of circles in design 4, 5 and 6.
(2) the number of discs in design 4, 5 and 6.
(3) the number of circles in design n.
(4) the number of discs in design n.
(5) the number of circles in design 500.
(6) the number of discs in design 500.
(7) which design will contain 139 circles .
(8) which design will contain 438 discs .
(d) Consider the diagram made up of black dots joined by thin black lines.
(1) How many dots are there in figure 4?
(2) How many lines are there in figure 4?
(3) How many dots are there in figure 8?
(4) How many lines are there in figure 8?
(5) Determine the general rule to find the
number of dots in the nth figure.
(6) How many dots are there in the 186th figure?
(7) Which figure will contain 272 dots?
(8) Determine the general rule to find the number of lines in the nth figure.
(9) How many lines are there in the 900th figure?
(10) Which figure will contain 650 lines?

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(e) Consider the following designs.

(1) How many shaded rectangles are there in design 4, 5 and 6?

(2) Determine the number of shaded rectangles in design n.
(3) How many shaded rectangles are there in design 10?
(f) Consider the diagram made up of black dots.

(1) How many dots are there in figure 5?

(2) How many dots are there in figure 6?
(3) Describe the pattern in words.
(4) Determine the general rule to find the number of dots in the nth figure.
(5) How many dots are there in the 50th figure?
REVISION EXERCISE
(a) For each of the following sequences, determine the general rule (nth term) and hence
calculate the 100th term.
(1) 5 ; 8 ;11;14 ; ........ (2) 7 ;11;15 ;19 ; ........ (3) 3 ; 8 ;13 ;18; ........
(4) 3 ; 7 ;11;15 ; ........ (5) 10 ;16 ; 22 ; 28 ; ..... (6) 4 ;11;18 ; 25 ; .......
(7) 4 ; 0 ;  4 ;  8 ; ....... (8) 0 ;  3 ;  6 ; ....... (9) 6 ;  11;  16 ; .......
(10) 5 ;1;  3 ;  7 ; .... (11) 5 ;  11;  17 ; ........ (12) 3 12 ; 4 ; 4 12 ; ........
(13) 2 12 ; 4 12 ; 6 12 ; ..... (14) 1
4
;1; 74 ; ........ (15) 0,5 ; 0, 7 ; 0,9 ; ....
(16) 13 ;  7 ;  1; ..... (17) 1;  9 ;  19 ; ....... (18) 12 ;11;10 ; 9 ; .....
(b) For each of the following sequences, determine the general rule (nth term) and hence
calculate the 10th term.
(1) 6 ;12 ; 24 ; 48 ; ........ (2) 3 ;15 ; 75 ; 375 ; .... (3) 1; 7 ; 49 ; ........
(4) 3 ; 9 ; 27 ; 81; ........ (5) 8 ; 4 ; 2 ;1; ........ (6) 12 ; 6 ; 3 ; ........
(7) 6 ; 9 ;14 ; 21; .... (8) 4 ;  1; 4 ;11; .... (9) 16 ; 25 ; 36 ;.........
(c) 3 ;10 ;17 ; 24 ; ......... is a given sequence.
(1) Determine the 40th term.
(2) Which term of the sequence is 1 403?
(d) 19 ;16 ;13 ;10 ; ......... is a given sequence.
(1) Determine the 65th term.
(2) Which term of the sequence is 113 ?
(e) Tn  8n  5 is the nth term of a number pattern (sequence).
(1) Determine the first four terms of the sequence.
(2) Determine the 30th term.
(3) Which term is equal to 315?
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(f) Below is a sequence of ethnic designs constructed out of short wooden sticks. The
first design is made up of two octagons and a square. The first design consists of 17
short wooden sticks.

(1) How many octagons are there in design 20?

(2) How many squares are there in design 50?
(3) How many short wooden sticks are there in design 100?
(4) Which design contains 50 octagons?
(5) Which design contains 1000 squares?
(6) Which design contains 784 short wooden sticks?
SOME CHALLENGES
2 5 8 14
(a) Consider the sequence: ; ; ;1; ; ............
5 7 9 13
(1) Determine the nth term.
(2) Calculate the 10th term.
5 14 22 26 30
(b) Consider the sequence: 2 ; ; ;1; ; ; ;............
4 13 23 28 33
(1) Determine the nth term.
(2) Calculate the 20th term.
(c) Consider the number pattern: 4  6 ; 7 14 ;10  22 ;13  30 ; ......
(1) Determine the nth term.
(2) Determine the 40th term.
1 3 9 27
(d) Determine the general term of the sequence: ; ; ; ; ............
5 8 13 20
(e) Consider the following designs.

(1) Write down the number of circles in design 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

(2) Determine the number of circles in design n.
(3) How many circles are there in design 40?

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