Virginia SOL Math / Grade 5 / Patterns, Functions & Algebra

5.PFA.1

Patterns with Whole Numbers, Fractions & Decimals

What you'll learn

  • Identify, describe, and extend patterns using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals
  • Find the rule of a pattern
  • Create patterns from a given rule

Words to know

Pattern —
an ordered set that follows a rule
Rule —
what to do to get the next term
Term —
one number or item in a pattern
Increasing —
the terms grow larger
Decreasing —
the terms get smaller

Why it matters Finding a pattern rule lets us predict what comes next, whether we are counting money, measuring, or saving over time.

Worked examples

Model ItI do

Find the rule and the next term: 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, ___.

Each term is 0.2 more than the one before, so the rule is add 0.2. The next term is 0.6 + 0.2 = 0.8.

Try It TogetherWe do

Extend the pattern: 1/8, 2/8, 3/8, ___.

Each term adds 1/8 to the one before, so the rule is add 1/8. The next term is 3/8 + 1/8 = 4/8, or 1/2.

Now YouYou do

Find the rule and the next term: 100, 90, 80, ___.

Compare each term to the one before it to find the rule. Check your answer in the back of this chapter.

Practice

Mastered 0 of 11

Warm-up

Ease in with the basics.

  1. 1.Extend the pattern: 2, 4, 6, ___.

  2. 2.What is the rule for 3, 6, 9, 12?

  3. 3.Extend the pattern: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, ___.

On Level

The core Quick Check from the book.

  1. 1.Extend the pattern: 5, 10, 15, ___.

  2. 2.Extend the pattern: 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, ___.

  3. 3.What is the rule for 60, 55, 50, 45?

  4. 4.Extend the pattern: 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, ___.

  5. 5.Is 3, 6, 12, 24 increasing or decreasing?

Challenge

Stretch your thinking.

  1. 1.Find the rule and the next term: 1/6, 2/6, 3/6, ___.

  2. 2.Find the missing term: 3, 6, 12, ___, 48.

  3. 3.Find the rule and the next term: 5.5, 5.0, 4.5, 4.0, ___.