Identify the pattern and find the next number in the pattern -1,3,7,11

Mathematics · Middle School · Thu Feb 04 2021

Answered on

Given the pattern:

-1, 3, 7, 11

Identify the next number in the pattern.

Solution:
In order to identify the next number in the pattern, we must first find the common difference, to do so, we subtract the first term to the second term.

1st term = -1

2nd term = 3

Common Difference = 2nd term - 1st term

Common Difference = 3 - (-1)
Common Difference = 3 + 1
Common Difference = 4

Now since we know that 4 is the common difference, we simply need to add 4 to 11 to determine the next number.

= 11 + 4

 = 15

Final answer:
The next number in the pattern is 15.