Arithmetic Reasoning Patterns and Sequences Answer
Patterns and sequences is a subtopic that I present in my ASVAB prep course. It is one of of the many topics that I cover in my ASVAB study guide entitled, The ASVAB Tutor’s Arithmetic Reasoning Study Guide. Yesterday I presented an Arithmetic Reasoning question on patterns and sequences.
The question is:
What comes next in the pattern?
2, -3, 0, -5, _____
- -2
- 3
- 0
- 5
Were you able to identify the pattern?
To recognize the pattern, it is important to see what happens from one number to the next.
In looking at the pattern, it can be seen that the numbers go down, then up, then down, the next answer will go up.
To look a little closer, we need to see how much each number goes up and down by.
From 2 to -3, the number went down by 5.
From -3 to 0, the number when up by 3.
From 0 to -5, the number went down by 5
The pattern is down 5, up 3, down 5.
The next number will go up by 3.
-5 + 3 = -2
Make sure you are comfortable in working with adding and subtracting positive and negative numbers to be able to solve this problem.
