Math Lab

Pattern Step Maker

Patterns · Class I

Pick a start and a step. Watch the pattern grow.

1
type a value
09
2
type a value
15
Live values
  • 1st term1
  • 2nd term3
  • 3rd term5
  • 4th term7
xy
  • Pattern line

Formulas in this lab

  • 1st term
    startstart
  • 2nd term
    start+stepstart + step
  • 3rd term
    start+2stepstart + 2\cdot step
  • 4th term
    start+3stepstart + 3\cdot step
Tip: Each jump on the number line is the same size!

Frequently asked questions

What is a number pattern?

A pattern is a list of numbers that follow a rule. If you start at 2 and add 3 each time, you get 2, 5, 8, 11. The rule, called the step, makes the pattern grow.

How do I use the pattern step maker?

Pick a starting number and a step size. The lab then writes out the next numbers in the pattern. Change the step to 2 to see even numbers, or to 5 to see the 5 times table style jumps.

Where do we see patterns around us?

The houses on a road may be numbered 2, 4, 6, 8 on one side. Bus seats are often in rows of pattern. Even the days you go to swimming class, like every 3 days, make a pattern.

Fun pattern fact

If you keep adding the same step, you always get a straight line of numbers. Maths people call this an arithmetic pattern. Try a step of 0 and see what happens: every number is the same.