Pattern is a general term which can have a variety of meanings in language and mathematics.
Often, pattern refers to some kind of repetition.
Patterns can be seen in numbers, words, shapes, colors, and other areas.
In mathematics, a pattern is sometimes defined by a rule.
The pattern is triangle, triangle, square.
A square comes next in the pattern.
The pattern is two shaded triangles followed by two unshaded triangles.
An unshaded triangle comes next in the pattern.
Each number is 2 more than the previous number.
The rule is add 2. The next number in the pattern is 16.