What is a Pattern?
A pattern is a repeated or regular way in which numbers, shapes, or objects are arranged.
Patterns can help us:
- Predict what comes next
- Find missing values
- Understand mathematical rules
- Solve problems faster
🔢 Number Patterns
Number patterns are sequences of numbers that follow a rule.
➤ Example types:
1. Increasing Pattern
Numbers get bigger each time.
Example:
2, 4, 6, 8, 10 …
👉 Rule: Add 2 every time
2. Decreasing Pattern
Numbers get smaller each time.
Example:
20, 18, 16, 14 …
👉 Rule: Subtract 2 every time
3. Multiplication Pattern
Numbers grow by multiplying.
Example:
1, 2, 4, 8, 16 …
👉 Rule: Multiply by 2
🔷 Patterns in Shapes
Patterns are not only in numbers but also in shapes.
Examples:
- Circle, square, circle, square…
- Triangle, triangle, square, triangle, triangle, square…
👉 These follow a repeating design.
🔁 Rules in Patterns
Every pattern follows a rule. The rule tells us how to move from one step to the next.
To find the rule, ask:
- What is changing?
- Is it adding, subtracting, or multiplying?
- Is the shape or number repeating?
🧠 Finding Missing Terms
If a number or shape is missing in a pattern, we can find it by understanding the rule.
Example:
5, 10, __, 20, 25
👉 Rule: Add 5
👉 Missing number = 15
📊 Patterns in Everyday Life
Patterns are all around us:
- Calendars follow weekly patterns
- Traffic lights repeat in cycles
- Floor tiles have repeating designs
- Nature shows patterns in leaves and flowers
✨ Why Are Patterns Important?
Patterns help us:
- Think logically
- Solve problems faster
- Predict future steps
- Understand mathematics better
📌 Key Points to Remember
- A pattern is a repeated design or rule
- Patterns can be numbers, shapes, or real-life events
- Every pattern has a rule
- We can predict next terms using the rule
Class 6 Maths – Patterns in Mathematics (50 Questions)
🔢 A. Number Patterns (1–20)
- What is a number pattern?
- Write the next three numbers: 2, 4, 6, 8, __, __, __
- Complete the pattern: 5, 10, 15, __, __
- Find the rule: 3, 6, 12, 24, __
- What comes next: 1, 3, 5, 7, __
- Fill in the blank: 100, 90, 80, __, __
- Identify the pattern rule: 4, 8, 12, 16, __
- Write first 5 multiples of 6
- What is missing: 7, 14, __, 28, 35
- Continue: 11, 22, 33, __, __
- Is 9, 18, 27 a pattern? Explain briefly
- Find next term: 50, 45, 40, __
- Complete: 2, 4, 8, 16, __
- Write next 3 odd numbers after 15
- What rule is used: 10, 20, 40, 80
- Fill: 1, 4, 9, 16, __
- What is next: 100, 50, 25, __
- Identify pattern: 6, 12, 18, 24, __
- Find missing: 3, __, 9, 12
- Make your own pattern using +3 rule
🔷 B. Shape Patterns (21–30)
- What is a shape pattern?
- What comes next: ▲ ■ ▲ ■ __
- Identify pattern: ○ ○ ● ○ ○ ●
- Draw next shape: △ △ □ △ △ □ __
- What is repeating in a pattern?
- Give one real-life example of shape pattern
- Complete: ★ ★ ☆ ★ ★ ☆ __
- Is tile flooring an example of pattern?
- Identify rule in shapes: circle, square, circle, square
- Create a repeating shape pattern
🔁 C. Rules in Patterns (31–40)
- What is a rule in patterns?
- How do you find the rule of a number pattern?
- If pattern adds 5, what is next: 2, 7, 12, __
- What rule is used: 5, 10, 15, 20
- Find rule: 100, 80, 60, 40
- Complete: 3, 9, 27, __
- What operation is used in 2, 6, 18, 54?
- Write rule for 1, 2, 4, 8, 16
- Find missing term: 10, __, 30, 40
- Explain why patterns are useful
🧠 D. Missing Terms & Logic (41–50)
- Find missing number: 4, 8, __, 16
- Complete: 9, __, 27, 36
- What is missing: 25, 20, __, 10
- Find next: 7, 14, 21, __
- Complete: 1, 3, __, 7, 9
- Identify rule: 2, 5, 8, 11
- What number comes next: 6, 12, 24, __
- Find missing: 50, __, 30, 20
- Create pattern using multiply by 2
- Write one real-life pattern example
Answer Key
🔢 A. Number Patterns (1–20)
- A sequence of numbers following a rule
- 10, 12, 14
- 20, 25
- Multiply by 2
- 9
- 70, 60
- Add 4
- 6, 12, 18, 24, 30
- 21
- 44, 55
- Yes, it increases by +9 each time
- 35
- 32
- 17, 19, 21
- Multiply by 2
- 25
- 12.5
- Add 6
- 6
- (Student activity – any correct +3 pattern)
🔷 B. Shape Patterns (21–30)
- A repeated arrangement of shapes
- ■
- Repeating pattern: ○ ○ ●
- □
- Shapes or numbers that repeat in order
- Floor tiles / rangoli / wallpapers
- ★ ★ ☆
- Yes
- Alternating circle and square
- (Student activity – any correct repeating pattern)
🔁 C. Rules in Patterns (31–40)
- A rule tells how a pattern continues
- By checking how numbers change (add/subtract/multiply)
- 17
- Add 5
- Subtract 20
- 81
- Multiply by 3
- Multiply by 2
- 20
- They help predict and solve problems quickly
🧠 D. Missing Terms & Logic (41–50)
- 12
- 18
- 15
- 28
- 5
- Add 3
- 48
- 40
- (Example: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32)
- (Any real-life pattern: traffic lights, calendar, tiles, etc.)