Number Sequences & Patterns

1. Jan 2017 Study the pattern of numbers in each row of the table below. Each row
relates to one of the figures in the sequence. Some rows have not been
A sequence of figures is made up of unit squares with unit sides.
included in the table.
The first three figures in the sequence are shown below.
Complete rows (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv).

Draw Figure 4 of the sequence in the space below. (2 marks)

 2. Jan 2016

The diagram below shows the first three figures in a sequence of

figures.

(a) Draw the fourth figure in the sequence.

(b) The table on the next column shows the number of dots and lines
in each figure. Study the pattern and complete the table.
 3. Jan 2018
A sequence of figures is made from toothpicks of unit length. The first
three figures in the sequence are shown below.
(b) Study the patterns of numbers in each row of the table below.
Each row relates to one of the figures in the sequence of figures.
Some rows have not been included in the table.
Complete

(a) Draw Figure 4 of the sequence.

 4. June 2018 (b) Study the pattern of numbers in the table below as it relates to
the sequence of squares.

A sequence of squares is made from squares of unit length. The first

Complete the rows numbered (i), (ii) and (iii)
three figures of the sequence are shown below.

(a) Draw Figure 4 of the sequence.

(c) Determine the relationship between the number of squares, S,

and the perimeter, P, of a figure.

 5. June 2017 (c) The table below refers to the figures and the number of dots in
each figure. Study the patterns shown.

The first four figures in a sequence are shown below. Figure 1 is a

Complete the row which corresponds to Figure 11.
single black dot, while each of the others consists of black dots arranged
in a equilateral manner.

(a) Draw Figure 5 of the sequence in the space below.

(d) Determine which Figure in the sequence has 210 dots.

(b) How many dots would be in Figure 6?
 6. June 2014 (b) Complete the table by inserting the missing information at the
rows numbered (i) and (ii).
A number sequence may be formed by counting the number of dots used
to draw each of a set of geometric figures. The first three figures are
shown below.

(c) Write an expression in f for the number (n) of dots used in

drawing the f th figure.

(a) Draw Figure 4, the next figure in the sequence above.

(d) Which figure in the sequence contains 145 dots.

 7. June 2019 (b) The first eight terms of another sequence with 𝑛𝑡ℎ term, 𝑈(𝑛), are

(a) The nth term, 𝑇𝑛 , of a sequence is given by 𝑇𝑛 = 3𝑛2 − 2. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21

(i) Show that the first term of the sequence is 1. Where 𝑈(1) = 1 𝑈(2) = 1 and

𝑈(𝑛) = 𝑈(𝑛 − 1) + 𝑈(𝑛 − 2) for 𝑛 ≥ 3

For example, the fifth and seventh terms are

𝑈(5) = 𝑈(4) + 𝑈(3) = 3 + 2 = 5
𝑈(7) = 𝑈(6) + 𝑈(5) = 8 + 5 = 13

(i) Write down 𝑈(9) and 𝑈(10)

(ii) What is the third term of the sequence?

(ii) Which term in the sequence is the sum of 𝑈(18) and 𝑈(19).

(iii) Show that 𝑈(20) − 𝑈(19) = 𝑈(19) − 𝑈(17)

(iii) Given that 𝑇𝑛 = 145, what is the value of 𝑛 ?
 8. Jan 2015

The diagrams below show the first three figures in a sequence of

figures.

(a) Draw the fourth figure in the sequence.

(b) The table across shows the number of squares in each figure.
Study the pattern in the table and complete the table by
 9. June 2010 (b) Study the patterns in the table shown below and then complete
the missing rows.
The diagram below shows the first three figures in a sequence of
figures. Each figure is made up of squares of side 1 cm.

(a) On the grid below draw the fourth figure (Fig. 4)

 10. Jan 2019 (b) Study the pattern and complete the table.

A sequence of figures is made by joining polygons with sides of unit

length. The first three figures are shown below.

(a) Draw figure 4 of the sequence

(c) Show that no figure can have a perimeter of 100 units.

 11. Jan 2020 (b) The sum of the number of dots in two consecutive figures are
recorded.
A sequence of figures is made up of stars, using dots and sticks of
different lengths. The first three figures in the sequence are shown
below.

Determine the TOTAL number of dots in

(i) Figure 7 and Figure 8

(a) Complete the table below

(ii) Figure 𝑛 and Figure (𝑛 + 1)

 12. Jan 2010 (b) Write down an expression for 𝑆 in terms of 𝑛, where 𝑆 represents
the number of sticks used to make a pattern of 𝑛 hexagons.

The table below show the number of hexagons in EACH pattern created
and the number of sticks used to make EACH pattern.

(c) Bianca used a total of 76 sticks to make a pattern of ℎ hexagons.

Determine the value of ℎ.

(a) Determine the values of 𝑥, 𝑦 and 𝑧.

 13. Jan 2012

Sarah is making a pattern of squares using straws. The first three

figures are shown below.

(c) Which figure in the sequence uses 106 straws?

(a) Draw Figure 4, the FOURTH shape in the pattern.

(b) Complete the table below for Figure 4 and Figure 10

(d) Obtain an expression in 𝑛, for the total number of straws used in

the 𝑛𝑡ℎ Figure.
 14. Jan 2013 (b) Determine the values of 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐.

The first three diagrams in a sequence are shown below.

(a) Draw the FOURTH figure in the sequence.

(c) Write down in terms of 𝑛, the number of squares in the 𝑛𝑡ℎ

diagram of the sequence.
 15. June 2016 (a) Draw Figure 4 of the sequence.

The diagram below shows the first three figures in a sequence.

(b) The table below shows the number of knots and strings in each
figure used to draw Figures 1, 2, and 3. Complete the table by
inserting the missing values in the rows shown below.