Exploring patterns

Example of ABC pattern

The use of the same three coloured blocks, arranged in a particular order, over and over and over again, creates a repeating pattern. This is a three-part pattern as it has three parts that make up the pattern core (in this instance, a blue block, a red block and a yellow block).

A pattern with a 3-part repeating core could look like:




We can describe this 3-part pattern as an ABC pattern, the core has 3-parts and each part has a unique attribute (in this case, the attribute that’s changing is colour).

Example of ABB pattern

An ABA pattern also has a core of 3 parts with two unique attributes, one of which is repeated. In the example below, the blue block is used before and after the red block: