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Growing shape patterns

You learn how a pattern of shapes grows, and how many squares a later step has.

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How to work it out

  1. Count the squares in steps 1, 2 and 3.
  2. See how many are added each time.
  3. Is it the same number every time? Then add it once for every step still to come.

2 × 2 = 4

Step 1 has 3 squares, step 2 has 5 and step 3 has 7. How many does step 6 have?

  1. Look at what is added each time: from 3 to 5 is 2, and from 5 to 7 too.
  2. From step 3 to step 6 there are 3 more steps.
  3. 3 × 2 = 6 more.
  4. 7 + 6 = 13 squares.
More examples

Step 1 has 4, step 2 has 8 and step 3 has 12. And step 4?

Four are added each time: 12 + 4 = 16.

A square of 1 by 1, then 2 by 2, then 3 by 3. And step 5?

5 × 5 = 25.