3. Number Patterns – Grouped in Images - (Old version) Numerical Reasoning

Number pattern series take various forms. One of those forms is being grouped in images , most often in:

Tables
Circles
Boxes

However, whatever the variation, you must remember that underlying this is a requirement that you find the number pattern .

The rules for finding that pattern are the same as the last checkpoint (you can have a look back to refresh). However, being grouped in images adds the following:

You'll need to identify (if required) the pattern:
1. Within the group and/or
2. Across the groupings
Then apply that pattern across the groupings to
Find the answer.

Other things you should consider when trying to identify a pattern or relationship is shown in the table below.

Try the pattern that seems most obvious to you	Following the guidelines, it is simple and a good idea to start with basic addition or subtraction between the two numbers next to each other (consecutive numbers). For example:5 9 14 20 27 ?9 – 5 = 4, 14 – 9 = 5, 20 – 14 = 6Can you see a pattern forming? The difference between each consecutive pair increases by 1. The difference between 20 and 27 is 7. Therefore the difference between 27 and the missing number is 8 (27 + 8 = 35). Therefore the missing number is 35.
Do not take the numbers for granted	This is an important consideration in the exam when you cannot identify a quick and logical relationship. In such an instance what this means is that some numbers are not what they appear to be. For example in the following sequence:2313 3132 1323 3231 ?If you try taking the difference between the numbers, this would be incorrect - not to mention wasting valuable time. The reason is because 2313 is not two thousand three hundred and thirteen. It is simply a group of numbers put together. There is no meaning to the group itself. What you will notice from the above sequence is the numbers moves on a rotating basis. With 2313, the 2 will move to the back of the group, which gives the second number 3132 and so forth. Another common pitfall could be naturally assuming that a number such as 111 is one hundred and eleven when could just be three separate ones or a one and an eleven grouped together. Some patterns also don't tend to follow the next number. For example the patterns can jump numbers, such as below:1 3 2 3 3 3 4 3 51 2 3 4 is every second number and the three is a constant. That means that three is a number which always occurs at every second spot.

Try the pattern that seems most obvious to you

Following the guidelines, it is simple and a good idea to start with basic addition or subtraction between the two numbers next to each other (consecutive numbers). For example:5 9 14 20 27 ?9 – 5 = 4, 14 – 9 = 5, 20 – 14 = 6Can you see a pattern forming? The difference between each consecutive pair increases by 1. The difference between 20 and 27 is 7. Therefore the difference between 27 and the missing number is 8 (27 + 8 = 35). Therefore the missing number is 35.

Do not take the numbers for granted

This is an important consideration in the exam when you cannot identify a quick and logical relationship. In such an instance what this means is that some numbers are not what they appear to be. For example in the following sequence:2313 3132 1323 3231 ?If you try taking the difference between the numbers, this would be incorrect - not to mention wasting valuable time. The reason is because 2313 is not two thousand three hundred and thirteen. It is simply a group of numbers put together. There is no meaning to the group itself. What you will notice from the above sequence is the numbers moves on a rotating basis. With 2313, the 2 will move to the back of the group, which gives the second number 3132 and so forth. Another common pitfall could be naturally assuming that a number such as 111 is one hundred and eleven when could just be three separate ones or a one and an eleven grouped together. Some patterns also don't tend to follow the next number. For example the patterns can jump numbers, such as below:1 3 2 3 3 3 4 3 51 2 3 4 is every second number and the three is a constant. That means that three is a number which always occurs at every second spot.

Let's go through some examples now:

Question 1

The numbers in each box go together in a certain way. Find the missing number marked by the question mark:

[ 12,32,6] [46,66,23] [72,92,36] [22,?,11]

A: 22 B : 111 C: 42 D: 50 E: 35

Question 2

The numbers in each box go together in a certain way. Find the missing number marked by the question mark:

[23,18,41] [45,28,73] [25,74,99] [47,?,90]

A: 74 B : 18 C: 99 D: 40 E: 43

Question 3

2,	4,	1
1,	3,	1,

is to 12 as

1,	2,	1,
2,	3,	3,

is to?

A: 4 B : 9 C: 24 D: 36 E: None of these |

Question 4

21 is to:

3,	5,	4,
2,	6,	1,

as 42 is to:

6,	10,	8,
4,	8,	?,

Find the missing the number.

A: 1 B : 2 C: 6 D: 8 E: None of these

Key Rules to remember:

Pattern existence may be confined within the group.
Once detected and the pattern holds, then apply it.
Remember the rules that hold number patterns together (checkpoint 2) as that applies here.

Now it's time to do your assignment.

Download the assignment question here.
Print it out or if you want to do it electronically, save it.
Complete the questions to it.
Then check the solutions on the video below. Note that for the solution to Q10, the answer provided by the tutor doesn't nominate a letter option (A, B, C, D) because the test paper he has used was slightly modified. Your test paper will show option A as being the solution which correlates to the figure he has provided.
For the answers in text instead of video, download them here.

3. Number Patterns – Grouped in Images

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