ISEE Middle Level Mathematics Achievement Question of the Day

1. Add 2 each time
2. Subtract 3 each time
3. Subtract 3, then add 5, repeat (correct answer)
4. Multiply by 2, then subtract 1

Explanation: This question tests middle school mathematics skills, specifically identifying rules that govern number patterns. Understanding number patterns involves recognizing the rule that consistently applies to each number in a sequence, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. In this problem, the sequence 10, 7, 12, 9, 14 follows an alternating pattern: subtract 3 (10-3=7), then add 5 (7+5=12), subtract 3 (12-3=9), then add 5 (9+5=14). The correct choice, 'Subtract 3, then add 5, repeat,' accurately describes this alternating operation pattern. A common distractor, such as 'Add 2 each time,' fails because it doesn't account for the decreasing values at positions 2 and 4. Teaching strategies include having students track whether each step increases or decreases and by how much, creating a visual pattern of operations. Remind students that some sequences use alternating rules rather than a single consistent operation.