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Functional Skills Mathematics

(Entry Level 2)

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Topic 2: Number patterns

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For these questions, you need to identify the pattern, and then continue it.

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Look at this number pattern:

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30, 33, 36, .... , ....

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The first thing to notice is that the numbers are getting bigger each time, so this is an addition pattern.

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Next you need to work out how much is being added each time. This is an add 3 pattern.

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So by adding 3 you can work out the next two numbers in the pattern:

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30, 33, 36, 39, 42

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Here is another number pattern:

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86, 84, 82, .... , ....

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This time the numbers are getting smaller each time, so this is a subtraction pattern.

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Next you need to work out how much is being subtracted each time. This is a subtract 2 pattern.

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So by subtracting 2 you can work out the next two numbers in the pattern:

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86, 84, 82, 80, 78

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If you are not sure how much is being added or subtracted in a pattern, you can find out by calculating the difference between any two numbers that are next to each other.

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Difference is calculated by subtracting the smaller number from the bigger one.

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Look at this pattern:

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47,  53,  59,  .... ,  ....

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53 - 47 gives you the difference.

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53 - 47 = 6

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The pattern is an addition pattern (the numbers are getting bigger), so you add on 6 each time to complete it.

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47,  53,  59,  65,  71

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