A number pattern is a list of numbers which follow a rule.
To find the first four numbers of pattern X, start with 0, then add 1 three times.
| starting number |
add 1 to 0 |
add 1 to 1 |
add 1 to 2 |
PATTERN X |
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
To find the first four numbers of pattern Y, start with 0, then add 3 three times.
| starting number |
add 3 to 0 |
add 3 to 3 |
add 3 to 6 |
PATTERN Y |
0 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
One observation is that the terms of pattern Y are three times the corresponding terms of pattern X.
PATTERN X TERMS × 3 | 0 × 3 |
1 × 3 |
2 × 3 |
3 × 3 |
0 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
Another observation can be made about the difference between corresponding terms of patterns X and Y.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TERMS | 0 - 0 |
3 - 1 |
6 - 2 |
9 - 3 |
0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
Notice the difference between corresponding terms of the patterns results in a pattern with a rule of add 2.