Colour Patterns
A colour pattern is a set of colours that repeats in the same order, again and again. Patterns are everywhere — on clothes, floor tiles, bangles, and rangoli designs.
In Class 2, you learn to spot colour patterns, continue them, and even create your own.
What is Colour Patterns - Class 2 Maths (Patterns)?
A pattern is something that repeats in a fixed order. A colour pattern uses colours to create this repeating order.
Example:
Red, Blue, Red, Blue, Red, Blue ...
The core (repeating part) here is Red, Blue. It keeps repeating.
Types of colour pattern cores:
- AB pattern: Red, Blue, Red, Blue ...
- ABB pattern: Red, Blue, Blue, Red, Blue, Blue ...
- AAB pattern: Red, Red, Blue, Red, Red, Blue ...
- ABC pattern: Red, Blue, Green, Red, Blue, Green ...
- AABB pattern: Red, Red, Blue, Blue, Red, Red, Blue, Blue ...
Solved Examples
Example 1: Continue the AB Pattern
Question: What comes next? Green, Yellow, Green, Yellow, Green, ___
Think:
- The pattern is: Green, Yellow (repeating)
- Green was last, so Yellow comes next
Answer: The next colour is Yellow.
Example 2: Continue the ABB Pattern
Question: What comes next? Red, Blue, Blue, Red, Blue, Blue, Red, ___
Think:
- The core is: Red, Blue, Blue
- After Red, the next two are Blue, Blue
Answer: The next colour is Blue.
Example 3: Find the Core of the Pattern
Question: Find the repeating part: Orange, Orange, Green, Orange, Orange, Green
Think:
- Look for the part that repeats
- Orange, Orange, Green — this happens twice
Answer: The core is Orange, Orange, Green (AAB pattern).
Example 4: Word Problem — Rangoli
Question: Priya makes a rangoli border with the pattern: Pink, White, Pink, White, Pink, White. If she uses 12 colours in total, how many are pink?
Think:
- AB pattern: every other colour is pink
- Half of 12 = 6
Answer: 6 colours are pink.
Example 5: ABC Pattern
Question: Continue: Red, Yellow, Blue, Red, Yellow, Blue, ___, ___, ___
Think:
- The core is: Red, Yellow, Blue (3 colours repeating)
Answer: The next three colours are Red, Yellow, Blue.
Example 6: Word Problem — Beads
Question: Meera strings beads in the pattern: Purple, Purple, White, White. She uses 20 beads in total. How many white beads are there?
Think:
- AABB pattern: 2 purple + 2 white = 4 beads per set
- 20 ÷ 4 = 5 sets
- White beads = 5 × 2 = 10
Answer: There are 10 white beads.
Example 7: Create Your Own Pattern
Question: Create an ABB pattern using red and blue.
Think:
- ABB means: one of the first colour, two of the second
- Red, Blue, Blue, Red, Blue, Blue ...
Answer: Red, Blue, Blue, Red, Blue, Blue, Red, Blue, Blue
Key Points to Remember
- A colour pattern has a core — the part that repeats.
- Common patterns: AB, ABB, AAB, ABC, AABB.
- To find what comes next, identify the core first.
- Colour patterns are found in rangoli, clothing, beadwork, and floor tiles.
- You can create your own patterns using any colours.
Practice Problems
- Continue the pattern: Blue, Red, Blue, Red, Blue, ___
- Find the core: Green, Green, Yellow, Green, Green, Yellow
- Create an ABC pattern using 3 colours of your choice.
- Ria makes a pattern: Pink, White, White, Pink, White, White. What type of pattern is this?
- Aman uses 18 beads in an AB pattern of black and white. How many black beads are there?
- What comes next? Orange, Blue, Blue, Orange, Blue, Blue, Orange, ___
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is a colour pattern?
A colour pattern is a set of colours that repeats in the same order. For example, Red, Blue, Red, Blue is a colour pattern.
Q2. What is the core of a pattern?
The core is the smallest part that repeats. In the pattern Red, Green, Red, Green, the core is Red, Green.
Q3. How do I find what comes next in a pattern?
First, find the core (the repeating part). Then see where you are in the core. The next colour follows the core order.
Q4. What is an AB pattern?
An AB pattern has two colours that alternate. Example: Red, Blue, Red, Blue, Red, Blue.
Q5. What is an ABB pattern?
An ABB pattern has one of the first colour followed by two of the second. Example: Red, Blue, Blue, Red, Blue, Blue.
Q6. Where do we see colour patterns in real life?
We see colour patterns on floor tiles, rangoli designs, clothes, bangles, flags, and bead necklaces.
