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What's a Pattern?
What's a Pattern?
Imagine you're counting chairs in rows at a concert. Row 1 has 5 chairs, row 2 has 8 chairs, row 3 has 11 chairs... You notice they follow a pattern (+3 each row). This ordered list of numbers following a rule is called a SEQUENCE. Recognizing patterns in sequences is the first step to understanding how they work.
Visual Guide
What is a sequence in maths?: A list of numbers that follow a rule or pattern. Each number in the list is called a term.
Mathematics glossary
- What is a sequence in maths?
- A list of numbers that follow a rule or pattern. Each number in the list is called a term.
- What is a term in a sequence?
- Each individual number in the sequence. The 1st term is denoted T(1) or u₁, the 2nd term is T(2), etc.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
✗ Only looking at one difference
✓ Check all differences to confirm pattern
One coincidence doesn't make a pattern
✗ Confusing term position with term value
✓ "3rd term" means position 3, not value = 3
Position vs value are different things
✗ Assuming all sequences are arithmetic
✓ Check for geometric, Fibonacci, or other patterns
Different sequences have different rules
Now try it yourself
Quiz · Question 1 of 14
What is the common difference of the arithmetic sequence below? 4, 11, 18, 25, 32, ...
Tap an answer to check it
This topic in real past papers
Every real exam question we've found on sequences, with a full worked answer.
AQA Paper 1
Three of the four sittings we have full papers for test a sequence beyond the standard nth term, using an unusual rule such as adding or multiplying the previous two terms.
AQA Paper 2
Three of the four sittings we have full papers for test recognising or continuing a special number sequence, with triangular numbers tested twice.