4. Number Patterns

Number Patterns

While patterns are thought to be primarily tested in numerical reasoning, there are growing instances where patterns are tested in mathematics.

Usually, when they’re tested in mathematics, it’s to look at images with a certain time of items (like matchsticks, blocks etc…) and often, you are required to find the nth number.

Regardless of the item, the main point of these questions is to test whether you can:

Identify a mathematical pattern.
Use that mathematical pattern to then find the answer.

So how do you find the pattern and answer these types of questions?

To do this you need to:

Look at the image.
Reduce any visual patterns to numbers.
See if any patterns can be detected. Look at (a) number of sides, any increments and how much it is changing by, isolate what’s changing or constant and then express it as a simple pattern.

Here are rules to uncovering the pattern :

If the numbers of items is going up , that is, if each number is greater than the previous number.

Logically, this suggests that addition or multiplication is involved . This is because addition and multiplication results in numbers that are larger than previous numbers. They may be involved with a combination of other operators such as subtraction and division. Therefore, in identifying a relationship, think first about addition and/or multiplication as your first step.

If the numbers of items is going down , that is, if each number is less than the previous number.

Logically, this suggests that subtraction or division is involved . This is because subtraction and division results in numbers that are smaller than previous numbers. They may be involved with a combination of other operators such as addition and multiplication. Therefore, in identifying a relationship, think first about subtraction and/or division as your first step.

Let's do this with each of the following images (watch video explanation):

Symmetry in number patterns

Symmetry can help you calculate mathematical problems.

How?

Calculate one side (one half of the symmetrical image).
The other side is equal to the 1st part.
To get to the total, you just have to multiply (x 2) by 2.

Let me illustrate with the following examples below (see video explanation).

Example Question/s

Watch video for explanation of the following question/s:

The next 2 questions refer to the following information.

Sheena works at the shoe center. She stacks box of shoes in a pattern like this.

How many boxes does Sheena need to make a stack of 6 boxes high?

A 36 B 11 C 96 D 30

Sheena has 100 boxes altogether. Using her pattern, how many boxes high is the largest stack she can make?

A 10,000 B 7 C 10 D 9

The next 2 questions refer to the following information.

The numbers in these boxes follow a pattern. Some of the entries are missing.

A = ?

A 7 B 12 C 3/4 D 1

B = ?

A 2 B 12 C 35 D 5/7

Key Rules to remember:

Look visually to find the pattern and express this in numerical format. In particular, pay attention to the number of sides, increments (increasing by?), isolate what's increasing, stable etc… and then express it as a simple pattern.
Use the power of symmetry – to get the total x 2

Key Rules to remember

Numbers going up? Addition/multiplication, combination likely involved.
Numbers going down? Subtraction/division, combination likely involved.
Multiply by 2 to get the whole or divide by 2 to get the half, if symmetrical.

Practice time!

Now, it's your turn to practice.

Click on the button below and start your practice questions. We recommend doing untimed mode first, and then, when you're ready, do timed mode.

Every question has two solutions videos after you complete the question. The first is a quick 60 second video that shows you how our expert answers the question quickly. The second video is a more in-depth 5-steps or less explainer video that shows you the steps to take to answer the question. It's really important that you review the second video because that's where you'll learn additional tips and tricks.

Once you're done with the practice questions, move on to the next checkpoint.