4th grade · Math · Unit 6 of 17
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.
New York State Learning Standards learning standard: NY-4.OA.5 · making and explaining 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 New York
In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 6 of 17 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.
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
A tank drains the same amount of water every hour. How many liters will be left after hour 5?
Hour Liters left 0 45 1 40 2 35 3 30 - 15
- 30
- 20
- 25
20
Hint: The number goes down by 5 each hour. Keep subtracting 5 until you reach hour 5.
Question 2
Which rule turns each In number into its Out number?
In Out 2 11 6 15 7 16 9 18 - Multiply by 6
- Add 6
- Add 9
- Subtract 2
Add 9
Hint: Test a rule on every row, not just the first one. A rule that works for 2 → 11 might not work for 6 → 15.
Question 3
What number comes next?
239, 214, 189, 164,
- 114
- 139
- 189
- 149
139
Hint: Find the change from one number to the next: 239 to 214 is −25. Do the same to 164.
Question 4
How many wheels are there for 6 bikes?
Bikes Wheels 1 2 2 4 3 6 4 8 answer box
12
Hint: The wheels are always 2 times the bikes. Multiply 6 × 2.
Question 5
What number is missing?
85, 70, , 40, 25
- 65
- 55
- 45
- 56
55
Hint: The pattern goes down by 15 each time. 70 − 15 = 55.
Question 6
For every 1 week, there are 7 days. How many days are there for 8 weeks?
📅answer box
56
Hint: Each week adds 7 days. Multiply: 8 × 7.