1 Looking For A Pattern

In mathematics, there are various patterns: some are relatively straightforward and others are more
challenging. We, therefore, have to think outside the box and be flexible in our search for answers.

Besides adding or subtracting the terms in a number pattern, applying multiplication, division or even the
use of any two arithmetic skills may help in the solving of the problems.

In Fibonacci numbers, the third term in the number pattern is the sum of the first and second terns; the
fourth term is the sum of the second and third terms; the fifth term is the sum of the third and fourth
terms, and so on. In essence, each term, after the first two terms, is the sum of the two preceding terms.

EXAMPLES
Complete each number pattern.

(a) 4, 7, 10, 13, ( ), …

Analysis: The different between any two consecutive terms in the above number pattern is 3, so the next
term must be…

(b) 2, 6, 12, 20, ( ), …

Analysis: This is more interesting than the number pattern shown in (a). The second term is 4 more than
the first one. Thereafter, the difference between any two consecutive terms increases by 2.

2+4=6

6 + 4 + 2 = 12

12 + 4+ 2 + 2= 20

The next term is, therefore, …

(c) 2, 6, 18, ( ), …

Analysis: In the above number pattern, it is difficult to make sense of the difference between any two
consecutive numbers. The difference between the first and second terms is 4. The difference between the
second and third terms is 12. Observing the two differences will reveal that 12 is three times of 4. Hence
the second term is three times the first term; the third term is three times the second term and so on.

(d) 44, 22, 20, 10, 8, ( ), ( )

Analysis: The above number pattern uses two arithmetic skills: division and subtraction. The first term is
divided by 2 and the second term is subtracted by 2.

(e) 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, ( ), ( ), 55, 89, ..

PRACTICE
1. Complete each number pattern below.

(a) 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, ( ), ( ), …

(b) 1, 1, 1, 1, 4, 7, 13, ( ), …

(c) 3, 5, 9, 15, 23, 33, 45, ( ), …

(d) 1, 3, 6, 10, ( ), 21, 28, 36, …

(e) 0, 3, 8, 15, 24, ( ), 48, 63, …

(f) 1, 2, 6, 24, 120, ( ), 5040, …

(g) 0, 1, 3, 8, 21, 55, ( ), ( ), …

(h) 1, 3, 7, 15, 31, ( ), 127, …

(i) 1, 1, 3, 7, 13, ( ), 31, …

(j) 1, 2, 5, 13, 34, 89, ( ), ( ), …

2. Ah, the magical trick of 9!

Observe the pattern and write the correct answers in the brackets provided.

21 × 9 = 189

321 × 9 = 2889

4321 × 9= 38889

54321 × 9 = ( )

654321 × 9 = ( )

7654321 × 9 = ( )

87654321 × 9 = ( )

987654321 × 9 = ( )

3. Complete the Pascal Triangle and write the correct answers in the brackets provided.

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 1

1 1

1 2 1

1 3 3 1

1 4 6 4 1

1 ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 1

1 ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 1

1 ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 1

4. The marvel of multiplication of 101!

Observe the pattern and write the correct answers in the brackets provided.

5. What are the missing number in the number patterns below?

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6. Fill in each blank with digits from 1 to 9. Each digit may be used only once. The number on the left-
hand-side of the arrow is added to 12 to reach the number on the right-hand-side.

7. Fill in each blank with digits from 1 to 9. Each digit may be used only once. The number on the left-
hand-side of the arrow is multiplied by 4 before adding 5 to reach the number on the right-hand-side.

8. Fill in each blank with digits from 1 to 9. Each digit may be used only once. The number on the left-
hand-side of the arrow is divided by 2 before subtracting 1 from it to reach the number on the right-
hand-side.

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9. Fill in each blank with digits from 1 to 9. Each digit may be used only once. The number on the left-
hand-side of the arrow is multiplied by 2 before adding 3 to reach the number on the right-hand-side.

10. Can you put 32 balls in the boxes below so that there are equal number of balls in every line?

11. Find the 8th term of the sequence.

12. Find the 8th term of the sequence.

1, 4, 11, 29, 76, 199, 521, ( ), …

13. Find the sixth term of the sequence.

1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ( ), 49, 64, …

14. Find the seventh and eighth terms of the sequence.

1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 16, ( ), ( ), …

15. Find the seventh and eighth terms of the sequence.

16. Find the sixth, seventh and eighth terms of the sequence.

3, 4, 9, 10, 15, ( ), ( ), ( ), …

17. Find the seventh and eighth terms of the sequence.

1, 3, 6, 8, 16, 18, ( ), ( ), 76, 78, …

18. Which of the following sequence is different from the rest?

(a) 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, …

(b) 0, 2, 2, 4, 6, 10, ,16, …

(c) 1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 18, 29, …

(d) 1, 2, 3, 6, 11, 20, 37, …

19. Find the missing number in each number pattern.

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20. Felicia saved $10 in January. She saved $20 in February. The amount of money she saved in March
was the total amount of money she had saved in January and February. The amount of money she
saved in April was the total amount of money she had saved in February and March. If she had saved
in this pattern up to October,

(a) In which month did she save $210?

(b) How much did she save in October?

21. Write the missing numbers in the brackets provided.

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