Garden Pattern Rules

Follow a rule to grow a pattern, then spot features the rule does not tell you.

Follow the rule

Use the rule to write the next numbers in each pattern.

Priya plants tomato seeds in rows. Row 1 has 3 seeds. Rule: each row has 4 more seeds than the row before.

Row 2:
Row 3:
Row 4:
Row 5:

Luis has 60 flower bulbs. Rule: he plants 6 bulbs each day, so subtract 6 each day.

Bulbs left after Day 1:
Bulbs left after Day 2:
Bulbs left after Day 3:
Bulbs left after Day 4:

In Month 1, the garden club has 3 members. Rule: multiply by 2 each month.

Month 2:
Month 3:
Month 4:
Month 5:

Which rule makes the pattern 4, 12, 36, 108?

A. Add 8B. Multiply by 4C. Add 24D. Multiply by 3

Look for features

Grow each pattern, then look for something the rule does not tell you.

Pattern: start at 5 and add 6. The numbers are 5, 11, 17, 23, 29, … What is true about every number in this pattern?

A. Every number is a multiple of 6.B. The numbers take turns being odd and even.C. Every number is odd.D. Every number is even.

Pattern: start at 5 and add 10. If the pattern keeps going, which numbers will be in it? Circle them.

Pattern: start at 1 and add 3. The numbers are 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, …

The 10th number in the pattern is . Write odd or even: the 10th number is .

Sort each pattern by what happens to its numbers.

Kim plants flowers in a row with this repeating pattern: daisy, tulip, rose, daisy, tulip, rose, … Which flower is in position 20?

A. daisyB. tulipC. rose

10.

Look at Kim's flower pattern again: daisy, tulip, rose, daisy, tulip, rose, … The roses are in positions 3, 6, 9, and so on.

The 7th rose is in position .
The flower in position 30 is a .

Explain a feature

Use words and numbers to explain your thinking.

11.

Pattern: start at 8 and add 4. Jamal says every number in this pattern is a multiple of 4. Is he right? Explain why.

12.

Ravi makes stepping-stone shapes for a garden path. Shape 1 uses 4 stones. Rule: each new shape uses 3 more stones than the shape before. Write the number of stones for Shapes 1 to 5. Then describe one feature of the pattern that the rule does not tell you.