Number patterns and rules: printable worksheets

Make number patterns from a rule, find rules and spot features the rule does not tell you.

Sample worksheet

The first 5 problems of a real worksheet, made the way the builder makes it. Open it in the builder to change the number of problems, the difficulty and the layout, then print.

Find the missing numbers.

What is the rule?

Rule:

Find the rule. Complete the table.

In	Out
29	31
55	57
65
72
100

Rule:

Start at 11. Add 3. Write the next numbers. Then circle the true statement.

A.The numbers take turns being odd and even.
B.Every number is a multiple of 9.
C.Every number ends in 0.

Find the missing numbers.

Show answers

2.Add 4.

In	Out
29	31
55	57
65	67
72	74
100	102

Rule: Add 2.

176

352

What students practise

I can find and explain the rule of a number pattern.

Students continue a number pattern, find the rule from its numbers or an in and out table, make a pattern from a rule, and explain features of the pattern that the rule does not state.

Key words

pattern: numbers that follow a rule
rule: what you do to get from one number to the next
term: one number in a pattern
input: the number that goes into a rule
output: the number that comes out of a rule

Common mistakes

Finds the change between the first two numbers only.
Treats a multiply pattern as adding the same amount.

Standards

Common Core State Standards this worksheet practises.

4.OA.C.5: Generate a number or shape pattern that follows a given rule. Identify apparent features of the pattern that were not explicit in the rule itself. For example, given the rule "Add 3" and the starting number 1, generate terms in the resulting sequence and observe that the terms appear to alternate between odd and even numbers. Explain informally why the numbers will continue to alternate in this way. (unverified)

Before this: Number patterns (Grade 3)
Next: Number patterns and the coordinate plane (Grade 5)