Patterns and Sequences

Describing number patterns

Describing picture sequences

Creating a sequence from a formula

Finding the nth term of a sequence

Plotting sequences on a grid

Prerequisite Knowledge

• Use simple formulae
• Generate and describe linear number sequences
• Express missing number problems algebraically
• Find pairs of numbers that satisfy an equation with two unknowns

Key Concepts

• A sequence or number pattern is an ordered set of numbers or diagrams that follow a rule.
• A term is a number or diagram in a sequence.
• A sequence can be described on a term-to-term basis or position to term.
• A formula can be used to calculate the term of a sequence when given its position number.  n is often used to represent the position number for any term of the sequence.
• Linear sequences will appear as straight lines when drawn as a graph.

Working mathematically

Develop fluency

• Select and use appropriate calculation strategies to solve increasingly complex problems
• Develop algebraic and graphical fluency, including understanding linear functions

Reason mathematically

• Identify variables and express relations between variables algebraically and graphically

Solve problems

• Begin to model situations mathematically and express the results using a range of formal mathematical representations
• Select appropriate concepts, methods and techniques to apply to unfamiliar and non-routine problems.

Subject Content

Algebra

• Substitute numerical values into formulae and expressions, including scientific formulae
• Understand and use standard mathematical formulae
• Recognise, sketch and produce graphs of linear functions of one variable with appropriate scaling, using equations in x and y and the Cartesian plane
• Generate terms of a sequence from either a term-to-term or a position-to-term rule
• Recognise arithmetic sequences and find the nth term
• Recognise geometric sequences and appreciate other sequences that arise.