Complete the Pattern

Free interactive math game: Complete the Pattern — Shape / growing / numeric. Part of the Sequences category on MathKite.

Example problems

Taken from the generator that powers this exercise. A fresh set appears every time the page is opened, and the printable worksheet holds ten of them.

  1. 10, 12, 15, 19, 24, ?
  2. 2, 6, 18, 54, 162, ?
  3. 5, 15, 45, 135, 405, ?
  4. 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, ?

About this exercise

Continuing a visual or numerical pattern.

How to solve it

Write the gaps between the terms underneath. If the gaps are constant, keep adding. If the gaps themselves follow a pattern, continue that instead.

Worked example

In 3, 5, 8, 12, 17 the gaps run 2, 3, 4, 5, so the next gap is 6 and the term is 23.

Common mistake

Fixing on the first gap alone. Checking three steps reveals whether the gap is growing.