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ZIMSEC O-Level Number patterns — practice questions

Explore 7 free Number patterns questions in ZIMSEC O-Level Mathematics. Open each question or exercise to read its content, reference answers and available explanation.

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Number patterns questions and exercises with answers

Showing questions 1–7 of 7.

What is an ordered set of numbers or variables called?Read the answer and worked solution →What name is given to terms that follow one directly after another in a sequence?Read the answer and worked solution →In a linear sequence, what exactly is the common difference?Read the answer and worked solution →A sequence begins 5, 9, 13, 17 and keeps the same pattern. What is its fifteenth term?Read the answer and worked solution →A sequence runs 3, 8, 17, 30 and continues in the same way. What is the next term?Read the answer and worked solution →Sort each list: linear or quadraticRead the answer and worked solution →Match the pattern wordsRead the answer and worked solution →

Worked practice questions

What is an ordered set of numbers or variables called?

  1. A gradient
  2. A quadrant
  3. A constant
  4. A sequence
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Correct answer: D. A sequence

1. A pattern in numbers is written down as a list in a fixed order. 2. A sequence or pattern is an ordered set of numbers or variables. 3. Each separate item that makes up the list is called a term. _Source: Siyavula Mathematics Grade 11 (Everything Maths, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 3: Number patterns_

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What name is given to terms that follow one directly after another in a sequence?

  1. Consecutive terms
  2. Alternating terms
  3. Independent terms
  4. Symmetrical terms
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Correct answer: A. Consecutive terms

1. Terms in a sequence are numbered by the position they hold. 2. Successive or consecutive terms are terms that directly follow one after another in a sequence. 3. Differences are always taken between two such neighbouring terms. _Source: Siyavula Mathematics Grade 11 (Everything Maths, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 3: Number patterns_

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In a linear sequence, what exactly is the common difference?

  1. Any term plus the term before it
  2. Any term minus the term before it
  3. Any term times the term before it
  4. The first term of the sequence
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Correct answer: B. Any term minus the term before it

1. A linear sequence steps up or down by the same amount every time. 2. The common difference is the difference between any two consecutive terms. 3. It is found by subtracting a term from the term that follows it. 4. Subtracting in the wrong order gives the right size but the wrong sign. 5. If the difference is not the same for every pair, the sequence is not linear. _Source: Siyavula Mathematics Grade 11 (Everything Maths, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 3: Number patterns_

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More Mathematics topics

StatisticsAlgebraClass12 Functions BasicsClass12 Relations BasicsGeometryMatrices and DeterminantsProbability & StatisticsSequences