4th grade · Math · Unit 6 of 15
Patterns & Tables
Growing and shrinking patterns
What your child practices
Extending increasing and decreasing number patterns, naming pattern rules, finding rules in input/output tables, and describing how two quantities are related.
Maine Learning Results learning standard: 4.OA.C.5 · analyzing number patterns that follow a given rule
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- A table lists each step and its number.
- Find how much the numbers change each step.
- Use that rule to carry on the pattern.
Example: A pattern starts at 4 and adds 3 each time. What is the 5th number? 4, 7, 10, 13, 16. The 5th number is 16. Answer: 16
Patterns & Tables in Maine
In the Maine Learning Results, this is unit 6 of 15 in 4th grade Math, after Decimals and before Equations.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
Source: Maine Department of Education
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
What number is missing?
143, 123, 103, , 63
- 83
- 93
- 84
- 73
83
Hint: The pattern goes down by 20 each time. 103 − 20 = 83.
Question 2
Which rule turns each In number into its Out number?
In Out 2 12 7 17 8 18 10 20 - Add 10
- Multiply by 6
- Add 5
- Subtract 1
Add 10
Hint: Test a rule on every row, not just the first one. A rule that works for 2 → 12 might not work for 7 → 17.
Question 3
What number comes next?
257, 307, 357, 407,
answer box
457
Hint: Find the change from one number to the next: 257 to 307 is +50. Do the same to 407.
Question 4
How many wheels are there for 7 tricycles?
Tricycles Wheels 1 3 2 6 3 9 4 12 answer box
21
Hint: The wheels are always 3 times the tricycles. Multiply 7 × 3.
Question 5
What is the pattern rule?
414, 389, 364, 339
- Start at 414. Add 25 each time.
- Start at 414. Subtract 26 each time.
- Start at 414. Subtract 25 each time.
- Start at 389. Subtract 25 each time.
Start at 414. Subtract 25 each time.
Hint: A pattern rule tells the first number and how it changes. 414 to 389 goes down by 25.
Question 6
What number comes next?
412, 401, 390, 379,
- 390
- 368
- 357
- 378
368
Hint: Find the change from one number to the next: 412 to 401 is −11. Do the same to 379.