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Find the pattern in the gaps between the numbers, then continue it.
Question 1 of 12
What number comes next? 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, ?
Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 3, 3, 3, 3. That shows each number is 3 more than the one before. The last number is 21, so the next one is 24. Check whether the numbers are growing too fast for adding, which usually means multiplying.
The answer is A. Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 3, 3, 3, 3. That shows each number is 3 more than the one before. The last number is 21, so the next one is 24. Check whether the numbers are growing too fast for adding, which usually means multiplying.
What number comes next? 39, 34, 29, 24, 19, ?
Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: -5, -5, -5, -5. That shows each number is 5 less than the one before. The last number is 19, so the next one is 14. Working out the gaps first is the habit worth teaching: it turns most of these into easy questions.
The answer is A. Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: -5, -5, -5, -5. That shows each number is 5 less than the one before. The last number is 19, so the next one is 14. Working out the gaps first is the habit worth teaching: it turns most of these into easy questions.
What number comes next? 2, 6, 18, 54, 162, ?
Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 4, 12, 36, 108. That shows each number is the one before multiplied by 3. The last number is 162, so the next one is 486. If the gaps are not the same, look at the gaps between the gaps.
The answer is C. Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 4, 12, 36, 108. That shows each number is the one before multiplied by 3. The last number is 162, so the next one is 486. If the gaps are not the same, look at the gaps between the gaps.
What number comes next? 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, ?
Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 1, 2, 3, 4. That shows the gaps grow by one each time, starting at 1. The last number is 11, so the next one is 16. Working out the gaps first is the habit worth teaching: it turns most of these into easy questions.
The answer is D. Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 1, 2, 3, 4. That shows the gaps grow by one each time, starting at 1. The last number is 11, so the next one is 16. Working out the gaps first is the habit worth teaching: it turns most of these into easy questions.
What number comes next? 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, ?
Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 6, 6, 6, 6. That shows each number is 6 more than the one before. The last number is 30, so the next one is 36. Check whether the numbers are growing too fast for adding, which usually means multiplying.
The answer is B. Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 6, 6, 6, 6. That shows each number is 6 more than the one before. The last number is 30, so the next one is 36. Check whether the numbers are growing too fast for adding, which usually means multiplying.
What number comes next? 15, 21, 27, 33, 39, ?
Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 6, 6, 6, 6. That shows each number is 6 more than the one before. The last number is 39, so the next one is 45. Check whether the numbers are growing too fast for adding, which usually means multiplying.
The answer is E. Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 6, 6, 6, 6. That shows each number is 6 more than the one before. The last number is 39, so the next one is 45. Check whether the numbers are growing too fast for adding, which usually means multiplying.
What number comes next? 3, 7, 17, 21, 31, ?
Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 4, 10, 4, 10. That shows the steps take turns: add 4, then add 10, then add 4 again. The last number is 31, so the next one is 35. Working out the gaps first is the habit worth teaching: it turns most of these into easy questions.
The answer is D. Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 4, 10, 4, 10. That shows the steps take turns: add 4, then add 10, then add 4 again. The last number is 31, so the next one is 35. Working out the gaps first is the habit worth teaching: it turns most of these into easy questions.
What number comes next? 10, 14, 20, 24, 30, ?
Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 4, 6, 4, 6. That shows the steps take turns: add 4, then add 6, then add 4 again. The last number is 30, so the next one is 34. Check whether the numbers are growing too fast for adding, which usually means multiplying.
The answer is A. Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 4, 6, 4, 6. That shows the steps take turns: add 4, then add 6, then add 4 again. The last number is 30, so the next one is 34. Check whether the numbers are growing too fast for adding, which usually means multiplying.
What number comes next? 13, 17, 23, 27, 33, ?
Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 4, 6, 4, 6. That shows the steps take turns: add 4, then add 6, then add 4 again. The last number is 33, so the next one is 37. Say the gaps aloud as you write them; the pattern is often easier to hear than to see.
The answer is A. Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 4, 6, 4, 6. That shows the steps take turns: add 4, then add 6, then add 4 again. The last number is 33, so the next one is 37. Say the gaps aloud as you write them; the pattern is often easier to hear than to see.
What number comes next? 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ?
Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 5, 5, 5, 5. That shows each number is 5 more than the one before. The last number is 40, so the next one is 45. Working out the gaps first is the habit worth teaching: it turns most of these into easy questions.
The answer is A. Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 5, 5, 5, 5. That shows each number is 5 more than the one before. The last number is 40, so the next one is 45. Working out the gaps first is the habit worth teaching: it turns most of these into easy questions.
What number comes next? 3, 8, 17, 22, 31, ?
Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 5, 9, 5, 9. That shows the steps take turns: add 5, then add 9, then add 5 again. The last number is 31, so the next one is 36. If the gaps are not the same, look at the gaps between the gaps.
The answer is D. Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 5, 9, 5, 9. That shows the steps take turns: add 5, then add 9, then add 5 again. The last number is 31, so the next one is 36. If the gaps are not the same, look at the gaps between the gaps.
What number comes next? 2, 11, 20, 29, 38, ?
Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 9, 9, 9, 9. That shows each number is 9 more than the one before. The last number is 38, so the next one is 47. Working out the gaps first is the habit worth teaching: it turns most of these into easy questions.
The answer is B. Write the gaps between the numbers underneath: 9, 9, 9, 9. That shows each number is 9 more than the one before. The last number is 38, so the next one is 47. Working out the gaps first is the habit worth teaching: it turns most of these into easy questions.
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