Concept 5 of 5
Pattern Detective
Today's big idea
Check two steps before deciding
Doubling, growing gaps, or a sneaky mistake.
How it works
👀 What's going on?
Some patterns do not add the same amount each time — they double, or grow by bigger and bigger jumps, or sneak in one wrong number to catch you out. A pattern detective checks more than one clue before deciding.
💡 Here's the trick
Look at the sequence above. The rule might be doubling, or gaps that grow, or the pattern may hide a single mistake. Check two or three steps before you trust a rule.
- 1.Look at how you get from the first number to the second.
- 2.Check the same rule works for the next step too.
- 3.Apply the rule — or, if hunting a mistake, find the number that breaks it.
✍️ Try it
- 1.What comes next: 2, 4, 8, 16, ?
- 2.Which number is wrong: 5, 10, 15, 21, 25? Series 1 doubles each time, so next is 16 × 2 = 32. In series 2, counting in 5s should give 20, so the wrong number is 21.
⚠️ Watch out
One step is not enough. 2, 4 could be add-2 or double — you only know it doubles once you see 4, 8 as well. Always check a second step.
See it in action
⚡ Time to play!
These patterns are tricky — check more than one gap before you decide.
PATTERN DETECTIVE · ROUND 1 OF 3
What comes next?
Quick check
✅ VERIFICATION
What is the next number: 3, 6, 12, 24, ?
⚡ Finish the activity above first to answer.
Keep going!