Create and Extend Number Patterns

You must look at more than 2 numbers.

Figure out the relationship between the numbers, and then see if that fits for the remaining numbers.

This will be the rule your pattern follows.

For example: 2, 4, 6, _, 10, 12 has the rule add 2. If we apply this rule, we can determine that the missing number is 8.

2, 5, 4, 7, 6, 9, 8

In this pattern we can determine the rule between the first 2 numbers is add 3.

2 +3 = 5. However, this rule does not work for the next 2 numbers.

5 + 3 does not equal 4. The relationship there is subtract 1.

After 4 we have 7. This is an increase of 3 again. So, we can now determine if our rules of add 3; subtract 1 will work through the entire pattern.