Repeating patterns are patterns where a group of elements repeat themselves as the pattern extends.
(Warren & Cooper, 2006)
What type of pattern is this?
Repeating pattern.
What patterns are being repeated?
Big circle and small circle.
Representing the pattern as a table of values
No. of sets | No. of red squares | No. green squares | Total no. of squares |
1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
2 | ? | 4 | ? |
3 | 3 | ? | 9 |
4 | 4 | ? | 12 |
5 | ? | 10 | 15 |
What is the repeating pattern for the above table?
1) Down the table – sequential thinking or single variational thinking
"The reds are increasing by 1."
"The greens are increasing by 2."
"The total is increasing by 3."
2) Across the table - relational thinking or co-variational thinking
"The number of sets is the same as the number of reds."
"There are twice as many greens as reds or half as many reds as greens."
"The total is three times the number of sets."
(Warren & Cooper, 2006)