M2.8.1 For the adult
Number sequences
What number comes next in 3, 7, 11, 15?
What this chapter teaches
A sequence is a list of numbers that follows a rule, and its step is the same each time. Subtract neighbours to find the step, and check every pair, not just the first. A common mistake is to check only one pair.
Three questions to ask
There is no one right wording. Listen for the idea.
- What comes next in 3, 7, 11, 15, and how do you know?
- How would you check that the step is the same all the way along?
- Can you make up a sequence that goes down by 20?
After the chapter, the learner can
- Continue a sequence that goes up or down in equal steps
- Find the step and the missing numbers in a sequence
What they copy into their notebook
A sequence is a list of numbers that follows a rule. Its step is the same each time. For 3, 7, 11 the step is 7 − 3 = 4. Check every pair.