The Algebra Teacher\'s Guide to Reteaching Essential Concepts and Skills

Name Date

WORKSHEET 1.9: IDENTIFYING PATTERNS BY CONSIDERING

ALL OF THE NUMBERS

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A pattern is a group of numbers that are related in some way. Following are some hints for

recognizing patterns:

• If the numbers are increasing, consider the operations of addition and multiplication.


• If the numbers are decreasing, consider the operations of subtraction and division.


• Some number patterns involve a combination of operations.

EXAMPLES

4, 6, 8, 10,...Each number is 2 more than the preceding number.

100, 50, 25, 12.5,...Each number is half of the preceding number.

10, 19, 37, 73,...Each number is found by multiplying the previous number by 2 and

subtracting 1.

DIRECTIONS: Identify the pattern in each sequence below.

1. 64, 61, 58, 55,... 2. 2, 10, 18, 26,...


2. 2, 12, 13, 23, 24,... 4. 3, 6, 10, 15, 21,...


3. 5, 25, 625,... 6. 729, 243, 81, 27,...


4. 0, 3, 6, 9,... 8. 19, 18, 19, 18,...


5. 4, 8, 12, 16,... 10. 1,000, 200, 40,...

CHALLENGE:What is the missing number in this pattern?

3, 4, 7, , 18, 29, 47,...

19

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2011 by Judith A. Muschla, Gary Robert Muschla, and Erin Muschla. All rights reserved.