Patterns

A pattern describes a repeated change of numbers, shapes, colors, actions, or other elements. Patterns are based on a specific rule. The rule can also be used to find missing steps in the pattern. In the example below, matches have been placed together to create three figures.

Is it possible to find a pattern? Notice that each figure has one more triangle than the previous one. Therefore, the next figure should have 4 triangles.

There is also a pattern in the number of matches. In each step, the number increases by 2. The first figure has 3 matches, the second figure has 5 matches, the third figure has 7 matches, and so on.

The number of matches in the next couple of figures can be found using this pattern. 3,5,7,9,11,13,... Patterns are also used to describe sequences and series. For example, the number of matches in this sequence represents an arithmetic sequence.