Question: Carol has written a number pattern that begins with 1, 3, 6, 10, 15. If she continues this pattern, what are the next four numbers in her pattern?

Strategy:

1) UNDERSTAND:

What do you need to find?

You need to find 4 numbers after 15.

2) PLAN:

How can you solve the problem?

You can find a pattern. Look at the numbers. The new number depends upon the number before it.

3) SOLVE:

Look at the numbers in the pattern.

3 = 1 + 2 (starting number is 1, add 2 to make 3)

6 = 3 + 3 (starting number is 3, add 3 to make 6)

10 = 6 + 4 (starting number is 6, add 4 to make 10)

15 = 10 + 5 (starting number is 10, add 5 to make 15)

New numbers will be

15 + 6 = 21

21 + 7 = 28

28 + 8 = 36

36 + 9 = 45