Patterns

Overview

Patterns form one of the foundational concepts in primary mathematics, helping children develop logical thinking, prediction skills, and number sense. In the WB TET Paper I (Classes I–V), pattern-related questions test your understanding of how sequences progress and your ability to identify the rule governing them.

This topic bridges arithmetic and early algebra. Recognising patterns is essential for understanding multiplication tables, place value, and later algebraic thinking. For the exam, you must be able to identify, extend, and create number patterns, shape patterns, and growing patterns. Questions typically ask you to find the next term, identify the rule, or spot the odd element in a sequence.

Mastering patterns also supports pedagogical questions—you may be asked how to teach pattern recognition or why it matters in child development.

Key Concepts

• **Pattern**: A sequence that follows a definite rule or arrangement. The rule can involve numbers, shapes, colours, sizes, or positions.

• **Repeating Pattern**: A core unit repeats over and over (e.g., red-blue-red-blue or circle-square-circle-square). The smallest repeating unit is called the "core."

• **Growing Pattern**: Each term increases (or decreases) according to a rule. The change is not simple repetition but systematic growth (e.g., 2, 4, 6, 8 — adding 2 each time).

• **Number Pattern**: A sequence of numbers following a mathematical rule — addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or a combination.

• **Shape Pattern**: A sequence of geometric shapes following a rule based on type, size, orientation, or colour.

• **Rule of the Pattern**: The instruction that tells how to get from one term to the next. Identifying the rule is the key skill tested.

• **Term and Position**: Each element in a pattern is a "term." The position tells where the term sits (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.). Sometimes the rule links position number to term value.

• **Odd One Out**: A term that breaks the pattern rule — often tested to check if students truly understand the underlying logic.

Formulas / Key Facts

| Pattern Type | Example | Rule | |--------------|---------|------| | Adding a constant | 3, 7, 11, 15, … | Add 4 | | Subtracting a constant | 50, 45, 40, 35, … | Subtract 5 | | Multiplying by a constant | 2, 6, 18, 54, … | Multiply by 3 | | Dividing by a constant | 64, 32, 16, 8, … | Divide by 2 | | Square numbers | 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, … | n² (position squared) | | Triangular numbers | 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, … | Add 1, then 2, then 3, … | | Fibonacci-type | 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, … | Add previous two terms | | Repeating shapes | ○ □ △ ○ □ △ … | Core = ○ □ △ (3 elements) |