A learner interprets a pattern rule as a consistent relationship between consecutive terms and generates the resulting sequence of whole numbers by applying that rule repeatedly, using representations such as ordered lists or input-output tables. The understanding includes distinguishing the starting value from the operation that changes each term and recognizing that a pattern is not merely a collection of numbers; rules involving simple addition, subtraction, or multiplication are emphasized, while symbolic formulas and more general function rules are beyond this scope.
A pattern rule tells you:
Start with 4. Add 3 each time. Find the first five numbers.
Begin with the starting value:
Now apply the rule repeatedly:
So the pattern is:
| Term | Number |
|---|---|
| 1 | 4 |
| 2 | 7 |
| 3 | 10 |
| 4 | 13 |
| 5 | 16 |
Remember: The starting number is , and the operation is “add .” Use the same operation every time. A pattern is not just a list of numbers—it is a list made by following a rule.
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