Primary 6 · Mathematics · Number Patterns

Number Patterns questions for Primary 6 Maths

10 questions to work through online. Answer and you get the working straight away, then a score at the end. No sign-up, and you can retake it as often as you like.

  • Constant difference
  • Constant multiplier
  • Finding a later term
  • Decreasing pattern
  • Two-step rule
  • Square numbers
  • Finding the rule
  • Working backwards
  • Triangular numbers
0 of 10 answered
Question 1 of 10Constant difference
The first four terms of a pattern are 7, 13, 19, 25. What is the next term?
Question 2 of 10Constant multiplier
The first four terms of a pattern are 3, 6, 12, 24. What is the next term?
Question 3 of 10Finding a later term
A pattern starts at 5 and adds 4 each time. What is the 10th term?
Question 4 of 10Decreasing pattern
The first four terms of a pattern are 80, 71, 62, 53. What is the next term?
Question 5 of 10Two-step rule
A pattern goes 2, 5, 11, 23. Each term is found by doubling the last term and adding 1. What is the next term?
Question 6 of 10Square numbers
The first four square numbers are 1, 4, 9, 16. What is the 8th square number?
Question 7 of 10Finding the rule
A pattern is 4, 10, 16, 22. What is the rule?
Question 8 of 10Working backwards
The 6th term of a pattern is 47. The rule is add 7 each time. What is the 1st term?
Question 9 of 10Triangular numbers
A pattern of dots is 1, 3, 6, 10, 15. What is the next term?
Question 10 of 10Finding a later term
A pattern starts at 100 and subtracts 6 each time. What is the 12th term?
Answers and explanations for all 10 questions

Every answer with the reasoning behind it. Worth reading after you have tried the set — or on its own, if you are a parent marking it.

  1. The first four terms of a pattern are 7, 13, 19, 25. What is the next term?

    Answer: 31

    Each term is 6 more than the one before, so 25 + 6 = 31.

  2. The first four terms of a pattern are 3, 6, 12, 24. What is the next term?

    Answer: 48

    Each term is double the one before, so 24 × 2 = 48.

  3. A pattern starts at 5 and adds 4 each time. What is the 10th term?

    Answer: 41

    The 10th term is 5 + 4 × 9 = 41.

  4. The first four terms of a pattern are 80, 71, 62, 53. What is the next term?

    Answer: 44

    Each term is 9 less than the one before, so 53 − 9 = 44.

  5. A pattern goes 2, 5, 11, 23. Each term is found by doubling the last term and adding 1. What is the next term?

    Answer: 47

    23 × 2 + 1 = 47.

  6. The first four square numbers are 1, 4, 9, 16. What is the 8th square number?

    Answer: 64

    The 8th square number is 8 × 8 = 64.

  7. A pattern is 4, 10, 16, 22. What is the rule?

    Answer: add 6 each time

    10 − 4 = 6, 16 − 10 = 6, 22 − 16 = 6, so the rule is add 6 each time.

  8. The 6th term of a pattern is 47. The rule is add 7 each time. What is the 1st term?

    Answer: 12

    From the 6th term back to the 1st is 5 jumps of 7: 47 − 35 = 12.

  9. A pattern of dots is 1, 3, 6, 10, 15. What is the next term?

    Answer: 21

    The differences are +2, +3, +4, +5, so the next difference is +6 and 15 + 6 = 21.

  10. A pattern starts at 100 and subtracts 6 each time. What is the 12th term?

    Answer: 34

    The 12th term is 100 − 6 × 11 = 34.