MathBrush
←  All problems

Question P5–P6 Growing patterns and tables

Today’s problem — free all day, every step. Every day has one.

PSLE 2025 — Two patterns common terms

Pattern 1: 3, 7, 11, 15, ... Pattern 2: 7, 12, 17, 22, ... The number 7 is the first common term in both patterns. What is the sum of the next two common terms?

See all 9 steps

MathBrush is being tested with a few parent groups, and every solution on the site is open to them — one household, all children. If you were given a code, it goes in once and this device remembers it.

I have a code → See the free ones

65 worked examples are free without a code, two from every pattern. No account, either way.

About this method

Growing patterns and tables

Find the rule, so Figure 250 is no harder than Figure 4.

In this one. Once two patterns share a term, they share one again every LCM of their two step sizes — here every 4 × 5 = 20 — so one common term gives you the rest for free.

The first threeeach one adds 3Figure 14Figure 2+3Figure 3+3Any figure3n + 1Figure nFigure 250 = 751

How to spot it

A row of figures or a table of numbers is shown for the first few terms only, and the question asks for a term far further along, such as 'Figure 6' or 'Figure 250'.

Common mistake

Children extend the sequence one term at a time by drawing or counting. Finding the fixed step or relationship lets them jump straight to the term asked for.

Practise a similar question

Challenging A grid is built from rods and straws: the rods run one way and the straws run across them, so a grid m sections long and n sections wide needs a full line of straws down each of the m+1 divisions and a full line of rods …
More about Growing patterns and tables →
Get the free patterns and skills booklet

Patterns and skills booklet

Worked examples of all 33 patterns and skills, in a booklet you can print.