Arithmetic Reasoning
Patterns and Sequences
What comes next in the pattern:
5, 2, 8, 5, 11, _____
As an ASVAB tutor, I remind my students of the importance of studying patterns and sequences. The topic of patterns and sequences is one of the 15 subtopics that I review in Arithmetic Reasoning in my ASVAB prep course. Some of my students become overwhelmed when they see pattern and sequence questions. They dread these examples. I remind them that they are not too difficult as long as they look at the pattern from one number to the next in the pattern. Do not look at all the numbers at once. Look at the pattern from one number to the next. If the numbers are going up, it is either multiplication or addition. If the numbers go up quickly, it is probably multiplication. If the numbers do not go up as quickly, it is probably addition. If the numbers are going down, it is either division or subtraction. If the numbers go down quickly, it is probably division. If the numbers do not go down as quickly, it is probably subtraction. Today’s pattern goes up and down. What number comes next? I will present the answer and explanation tomorrow.
