Linear number sequences
PROCEDURALGenerate and describe linear number sequences, including those with negative and decimal steps; identify the term-to-term rule
Mastery Evidence
- Continue the sequence 2.5, 4.0, 5.5, ... and state the rule as 'add 1.5'
- Generate terms of a sequence that crosses zero (e.g. 3, 1, −1, −3, ...)
- Describe the term-to-term rule for a given linear sequence and predict the 10th term
Assessment Prompt
“If [child] sees a number sequence like 3, 7, 11, 15… can they describe the rule, continue it, and predict what the 10th number will be?”
Prerequisites2
- Shape patternshardAges 9—10
- Measuring temperaturesoftAges 10—11
Show full prerequisite tree
- Patterns in Times Tables hard
Identifying arithmetic patterns feeds into generating and analysing patterns from rules
- Commutative Multiplication hard
Applying all three properties extends Y2 commutativity understanding
- Division as equal sharing hard
Using arrays for division requires understanding division as grouping
- Subtraction as taking away or separating hard
Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Multiplication as repeated addition hard
Using arrays requires understanding what multiplication means
- Addition as combining or putting together two hard
Multiplication as repeated addition requires understanding addition as combining groups
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding addition as combining groups requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Multiplication as repeated addition hard
Commutativity of multiplication requires understanding multiplication
- Addition as combining or putting together two hard
Multiplication as repeated addition requires understanding addition as combining groups
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding addition as combining groups requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Arrays for multiplication (age 7+) hard
Extends array-based repeated addition to formal multiplication interpretation
- Arrays for multiplication hard
Rectangular arrays with repeated addition extends array representation from Y2
- Division as equal sharing hard
Using arrays for division requires understanding division as grouping
- Subtraction as taking away or separating hard
Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Multiplication as repeated addition hard
Using arrays requires understanding what multiplication means
- Addition as combining or putting together two hard
Multiplication as repeated addition requires understanding addition as combining groups
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding addition as combining groups requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Multiplication as repeated addition hard
Expressing array totals as sums of equal addends requires understanding multiplication as repeated addition
- Addition as combining or putting together two hard
Multiplication as repeated addition requires understanding addition as combining groups
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding addition as combining groups requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Multiplication as repeated addition hard
Interpreting products formalises repeated addition/equal groups from Y1
- Addition as combining or putting together two hard
Multiplication as repeated addition requires understanding addition as combining groups
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding addition as combining groups requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Fluent multiplication and division facts hard
Spotting patterns in tables requires knowing the facts
- What Multiplication Means hard
Connecting division to multiplication requires understanding products
- Arrays for multiplication (age 7+) hard
Extends array-based repeated addition to formal multiplication interpretation
- Arrays for multiplication hard
Rectangular arrays with repeated addition extends array representation from Y2
- Division as equal sharing hard
Using arrays for division requires understanding division as grouping
- Subtraction as taking away or separating hard
Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Multiplication as repeated addition hard
Using arrays requires understanding what multiplication means
- Addition as combining or putting together two hard
Multiplication as repeated addition requires understanding addition as combining groups
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding addition as combining groups requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Multiplication as repeated addition hard
Expressing array totals as sums of equal addends requires understanding multiplication as repeated addition
- Addition as combining or putting together two hard
Multiplication as repeated addition requires understanding addition as combining groups
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding addition as combining groups requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Multiplication as repeated addition hard
Interpreting products formalises repeated addition/equal groups from Y1
- Addition as combining or putting together two hard
Multiplication as repeated addition requires understanding addition as combining groups
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding addition as combining groups requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Subtraction as taking away or separating hard
Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Multiplication as repeated addition hard
Recalling times table facts requires understanding multiplication as repeated addition/grouping
- Addition as combining or putting together two hard
Multiplication as repeated addition requires understanding addition as combining groups
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding addition as combining groups requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Multiplication as repeated addition hard
Recalling times table facts requires understanding multiplication as repeated addition/grouping
- Addition as combining or putting together two hard
Multiplication as repeated addition requires understanding addition as combining groups
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding addition as combining groups requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Negative numbers in context hard
Calculating intervals across zero extends Y5 negative number context
- Negative Numbers hard
Counting through zero is prerequisite to interpreting negative numbers in context
- The teen numbers hard
Understanding 10 as a bundle builds on understanding teen numbers as 'a ten and some ones'
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding tens-and-ones composition requires cardinality — knowing numbers represent quantities
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Reading and writing numbers to 20 hard
Composing/decomposing teen numbers requires reading and writing those numerals
- How Many in Total? hard
Reading/writing numerals 0–20 requires understanding that numerals represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Writing digits 0-9 hard
Writing numerals requires the motor skill of forming digits 0-9 (taught in English handwriting)
- The two digits of a two-digit number hard
Must understand two-digit place value before extending to hundreds
- A Ten Is Ten Ones hard
Understanding tens and ones place value requires the concept of 10 as a bundle
- The teen numbers hard
Understanding 10 as a bundle builds on understanding teen numbers as 'a ten and some ones'
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding tens-and-ones composition requires cardinality — knowing numbers represent quantities
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Reading and writing numbers to 20 hard
Composing/decomposing teen numbers requires reading and writing those numerals
- How Many in Total? hard
Reading/writing numerals 0–20 requires understanding that numerals represent quantities (cardinality)
- Writing digits 0-9 hard
Writing numerals requires the motor skill of forming digits 0-9 (taught in English handwriting)
- The teen numbers hard
General two-digit place value extends from understanding teen number composition
- How Many in Total? hard
Understanding tens-and-ones composition requires cardinality — knowing numbers represent quantities
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Reading and writing numbers to 20 hard
Composing/decomposing teen numbers requires reading and writing those numerals
- How Many in Total? hard
Reading/writing numerals 0–20 requires understanding that numerals represent quantities (cardinality)
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Writing digits 0-9 hard
Writing numerals requires the motor skill of forming digits 0-9 (taught in English handwriting)
Unlocks2
- Generalising with repeated reasoningsoftAges 10—11
- Generating SequenceshardAges 11—14