Number Line Problem: Find the Value at the Red Point in -5 to 15 Sequence

Q: How do I find the pattern in a number sequence?

Look at the differences between consecutive numbers. In this case: 3→7 (+4), 7→11 (+4), 11→15 (+4). The common difference is +4.

Q: Why isn't the answer -9 if I subtract 4 from -5?

Because the red point is between -5 and 3, not to the left of -5! You need to move forward in the sequence from -5, which means adding 4 to get -1.

Q: How do I know which direction to go on the number line?

Look at the position of the red point relative to the known numbers. It's clearly between -5 and 3, so you need to find what comes after -5 in the sequence.

Q: Can I check my answer without doing calculations?

Yes! Count the spaces on the number line. The red point is one unit to the right of -5, and -1 is indeed one unit right of -5 on any number line.

Q: Why do we start with -5 and not another number?

Because -5 is the closest known number to the left of the red point. It's easier to move forward one step than to work backward from 3 (which would be 3 - 4 = -1).

Number Line Sequences with Pattern Recognition

What number appears at the point marked in red?

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

What number appears at the point marked in red?

Step-by-step solution

Let's pay attention to the numbers on the axis from left to right:

$3,7,11,15$

We'll try to find the common denominator.

Note that if we use the operation +4, we'll reach the sequence of numbers:

$3+4=7$

$7+4=11$

$11+4=15$

Therefore, the red point will be the next exercise:

$-5+4=-1$

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Pattern Rule: Find the common difference between consecutive numbers
Technique: Apply pattern backward: from -5, subtract 4 to get -9 (wrong direction!)
Check: Verify by counting positions: -1 is exactly one position before 3 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Applying the pattern in the wrong direction
Don't continue the +4 pattern backward from -5 to get -9! This ignores that the red point comes AFTER -5 but BEFORE 3. Always identify the correct position first, then apply the pattern in the right direction.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

All negative numbers appear on the number line to the left of the number 0.

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

How do I find the pattern in a number sequence?

Look at the differences between consecutive numbers. In this case: 3→7 (+4), 7→11 (+4), 11→15 (+4). The common difference is +4.

Why isn't the answer -9 if I subtract 4 from -5?

Because the red point is between -5 and 3, not to the left of -5! You need to move forward in the sequence from -5, which means adding 4 to get -1.

How do I know which direction to go on the number line?

Look at the position of the red point relative to the known numbers. It's clearly between -5 and 3, so you need to find what comes after -5 in the sequence.

Can I check my answer without doing calculations?

Yes! Count the spaces on the number line. The red point is one unit to the right of -5, and -1 is indeed one unit right of -5 on any number line.

What if the pattern was different, like +3 or +5?

The same method works! Find the common difference, then apply it correctly. If it was +3: $-5 + 3 = -2$ . If it was +5: $-5 + 5 = 0$ .

Why do we start with -5 and not another number?

Because -5 is the closest known number to the left of the red point. It's easier to move forward one step than to work backward from 3 (which would be 3 - 4 = -1).

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Signed Numbers (Positive and Negative) questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime