Patterns in Numbers (Grade 2)
A pattern is something that repeats or follows a rule. Number patterns are sequences of numbers that follow a rule, like adding 2 each time or adding 5 each time.
In Class 2, we learn to find the rule in a number pattern and use it to tell what number comes next.
What is Patterns in Numbers - Class 2 Maths (Patterns (Grade 2))?
A number pattern is a list of numbers that follows a fixed rule.
- Growing pattern: Numbers get bigger (adding a number each time)
- Shrinking pattern: Numbers get smaller (subtracting a number each time)
Find the rule → Use the rule → Predict the next number
Solved Examples
Example 1: Example 1: Adding 2
Question: What comes next? 2, 4, 6, 8, ___
Think:
- 2 + 2 = 4
- 4 + 2 = 6
- 6 + 2 = 8
- Rule: add 2 each time
- 8 + 2 = 10
Answer: The next number is 10.
Example 2: Example 2: Adding 5
Question: What comes next? 5, 10, 15, 20, ___
Think:
- 5 + 5 = 10, 10 + 5 = 15, 15 + 5 = 20
- Rule: add 5 each time
- 20 + 5 = 25
Answer: The next number is 25.
Example 3: Example 3: Adding 10
Question: What comes next? 10, 20, 30, 40, ___
Think:
- Rule: add 10 each time
- 40 + 10 = 50
Answer: The next number is 50.
Example 4: Example 4: Subtracting 3
Question: What comes next? 30, 27, 24, 21, ___
Think:
- 30 − 3 = 27, 27 − 3 = 24, 24 − 3 = 21
- Rule: subtract 3 each time
- 21 − 3 = 18
Answer: The next number is 18.
Example 5: Example 5: Adding 3
Question: Ria writes: 1, 4, 7, 10, ___. What is the rule? What comes next?
Think:
- 1 + 3 = 4, 4 + 3 = 7, 7 + 3 = 10
- Rule: add 3 each time
- 10 + 3 = 13
Answer: The rule is add 3. The next number is 13.
Example 6: Example 6: Finding a Missing Number
Question: Fill in the blank: 12, 16, ___, 24, 28
Think:
- 12 + 4 = 16
- Rule: add 4 each time
- 16 + 4 = 20
Answer: The missing number is 20.
Example 7: Example 7: Counting Backwards by 2
Question: What comes next? 20, 18, 16, 14, ___
Think:
- 20 − 2 = 18, 18 − 2 = 16, 16 − 2 = 14
- Rule: subtract 2 each time
- 14 − 2 = 12
Answer: The next number is 12.
Key Points to Remember
- A number pattern follows a rule — like add 2, add 5, or subtract 3.
- Find the difference between each pair of numbers to discover the rule.
- Use the rule to predict the next number or fill in missing numbers.
- Growing patterns use addition. Shrinking patterns use subtraction.
- Skip counting (by 2s, 5s, 10s) creates number patterns.
Practice Problems
- What comes next? 3, 6, 9, 12, ___
- What is the rule? 50, 45, 40, 35, ___
- Fill in the blank: 10, 20, ___, 40, 50
- Continue the pattern: 7, 14, 21, 28, ___, ___
- What comes next? 100, 90, 80, 70, ___
- Aman writes: 4, 8, 12, 16. What rule is he using?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is a number pattern?
A number pattern is a list of numbers that follow a rule. The rule tells you how to get from one number to the next.
Q2. How do I find the rule in a pattern?
Look at the difference between each pair of numbers. If the difference is the same every time, that is the rule.
Q3. What is a growing pattern?
A growing pattern is one where the numbers get bigger. The rule uses addition, like add 2 or add 5.
Q4. What is a shrinking pattern?
A shrinking pattern is one where the numbers get smaller. The rule uses subtraction, like subtract 3 or subtract 10.
Q5. How do I fill in a missing number in a pattern?
Find the rule first. Then use the rule to figure out the missing number. Check by making sure the pattern works for all numbers.
Q6. Is skip counting a number pattern?
Yes! Skip counting by 2s (2, 4, 6, 8...), by 5s (5, 10, 15, 20...), or by 10s (10, 20, 30, 40...) are all number patterns.
