Pattern Completion — Number Patterns

Joyful Mathematics 2 — Counting in Groups and skip counting practice. This topic extends skip counting into pattern completion.

• A number pattern changes by the same amount each time.
• Find the jump size (add 1, add 2, add 5, subtract 1...).
• Use the jump size to find the missing or next number.

Verbal: Subtract one number from the next to find the jump. Keep adding (or subtracting) the same jump to continue the pattern.

Symbolic: 2, 4, 6, 8, ? → jump = +2, so next = 8 + 2 = 10. 20, 18, 16, ? → jump = -2, so next = 16 - 2 = 14.

Level 1 — Getting started

Level 1 — Practice idea

Say the numbers out loud and clap on each jump — this makes the jump size easy to feel.

Level 2 — Going further

Bigger jumps: 5, 10, 15, 20, ? — the jump is +5, so the next number is 25.

Indian real life

Counting coins in fives (5, 10, 15, 20 rupees) at a shop uses the same +5 pattern.

What comes next: 15, 20, 25, 30, ?

Step 1 — Find the difference between numbers: 20 - 15 = 5
Step 2 — Check the jump stays the same: 25 - 20 = 5, 30 - 25 = 5
Step 3 — Add the jump to the last number: 30 + 5 = 35
Answer: 35

• What comes next: 3, 6, 9, 12, ?
• What comes next: 20, 15, 10, ?
• Find the jump size in: 4, 8, 12, 16, ?

Stretch: What comes next in 100, 90, 80, ? and what is the jump size?

Revision tip: Write the jump size above each arrow between numbers before answering.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Pattern Completion — Number Patterns.