NUMBER PATTERN

Original Problem: Figure out the pattern, then continue it three more times

7708, 7016, 6324, 5632 ...


NUMBER PATTERN

1. Problem Statement

This problem is called Number Pattern. You must find the pattern in four numbers and write the next three numbers in the same pattern.

2. Process

The first thing I noticed was that the four numbers went down. So I tried to find out how much each number went down from the one before it. This is called the method of successive differences. First, I subtracted the second number from the first. That gave me

7708 - 7016 = 692

I did the same for the second and third numbers and got

7016 - 6324 = 692

the same answer! Subtracting the last pair showed I was on the right track

6324 - 5632 = 692

The pattern was that each number was 692 less than the number before it. So I subtracted 692 three more times to get my answer.

My Answer

My three numbers were

4940, 4248, 3556

3. Evaluation

I thought the problem was very easy. I liked it because I am good with patterns. The most difficult part was finding the differences. I didn't learn anything. I'm proud I figured it out.

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