Myriora Verbal Reasoning › 11+ verbal reasoning › Chapter 4: Letters, numbers and logic

Number sequences

11+Chapter 4 · Lesson 3

In this lesson

Write the gaps between the numbers.
Look for growing gaps, square numbers, or two patterns taking turns.
Check your answer fits the whole sequence.

Your turn

One, four, nine, sixteen, twenty-five. What comes next?

Show the answer

Thirty-six! These are square numbers, and six times six is thirty-six.

The common mistake

Here's a common mistake. Three, ten, five, twenty, seven, thirty. The gaps jump up and down, so lots of people get stuck. But two patterns are taking turns. Three, five, seven, going up in twos. And ten, twenty, thirty, going up in tens. So the next number is nine.

Try it at home

What comes next? Take turns making number patterns: steady gaps, growing gaps, square numbers, or two patterns taking turns. Say the rule after each answer.

Read the whole lesson

Hello, and welcome to Myriora English! What comes next? Two, five, eight, eleven. Look at the gaps: three each time. So the next number is fourteen.

Here are three more patterns to look out for. The gaps might grow: one, two, three, four. The numbers might be square numbers: one, four, nine, sixteen. Or two patterns might take turns.

Let's try one together. Two, three, five, eight, twelve. What comes next? Say it out loud!

Seventeen! The gaps are one, two, three and four, so the next gap is five. Twelve plus five is seventeen.

Your turn! One, four, nine, sixteen, twenty-five. What comes next? Pick the right card. You've got ten seconds, or pause the video. Go!

Time's up! Thirty-six! These are square numbers, and six times six is thirty-six.

Quick review. Write the gaps between the numbers. Look for growing gaps, square numbers, or two patterns taking turns. Check your answer fits the whole sequence. See you next time!