NUMBER SENSE, PATTERNS,
AND ALGEBRAIC THINKING
LESSON
1.1
DESCRIBING PATTERNS
Lesson Objective
Describe patterns using whole number operations.
NUMERICAL PATTERNS:
Example 1
Cindy must give her cat medicine every 4 days starting today, May
15. On what other dates in May will she need to give the medicine?
First Date:
May 15
Second Date:
May 19
+4
+4
Third Date:
May 23
+4
Fourth Date:
May 27
Fifth Date:
May 31
Sixth Date:
May 35
+4
+4
EXAMPLE 2:
Describe the following pattern: 53, 47, 41, 35, . . . Then
write the next three numbers.
—6
53,
—6
47,
41,
—6
—6
35,
—6
29
—6
23
17
Subtract 6 from the previous number to get the next number.
EXAMPLE 3:
Describe the following pattern: 64, 32, 16, 8, . . .
Then write the next three numbers.
÷2
64,
÷2
32,
÷2
16,
÷2
8,
÷2
4
÷2
2
1
Divide the previous number by 2 to get the next number.
VISUAL PATTERNS:
Example 4
What are the next three shapes that should appear in
this pattern?
One of the most basic activities
in mathematics is to recognize
and describe patterns. The
ability to see a pattern and
extend it is important in solving
many kinds of practical,
numerical, and geometric
problems.