49.4k views
20 votes
Why is it important to look at more than the first two numbers of a pattern to decide the rule for the pattern?

1 Answer

9 votes

Answer:

This is important because, the first few numbers might seem to follow a pattern but subsequent numbers might reveal a change in the rule.

Explanation:

When studying patterns it is important to evaluate all the figures holistically instead of drawing conclusions based on just the first few numbers because there might be a change in what we felt was obvious on close observance of all the numbers. For example, observe the pattern;

2,4,6, 10, 14, 18, 20, 22, 24

The first two numbers show the addition of two. If a person decides to add 2 to all the figures, he would be wrong because after the first three figures, he would have to add 4 to the numbers.

User Trevor Dixon
by
8.4k points

No related questions found

Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.

9.4m questions

12.2m answers

Categories