This blog is blog 1 of the Math for Machine Learning (M4ML) series. It explains how math and machines learn to see the world.
The Mystery of the Missing Number
You’re walking home from school, and you notice something strange.
On the sidewalk, someone has written a number pattern in chalk:
2, 4, 8, 16, __ ?
If you pick 32, congratulations — you just solved a math mystery using one of the most powerful ideas in the world: spotting a pattern.
Believe it or not, that’s exactly what machine learning does, too.
Patterns Are Everywhere
Patterns aren’t just in numbers. Look around:
- The stripes on a zebra
- The beats in your favorite song
- The way seasons repeat each year
- The rhythm of your heart
Patterns help us predict what’s coming next — like knowing spring follows winter, or the next note in a tune.
Describing a Pattern
Let’s see how we can describe patterns using math rules.
Example 1 — A growing sequence:
2, 4, 6, 8, 10, …
We can say:
- Start at 2
- Add 2 each time
That’s an arithmetic pattern (adding the same number repeatedly).
Example 2 — A doubling sequence:
2, 4, 8, 16, 32, …
This time we’re multiplying by 2 each time — a geometric pattern.
Math gives us ways to write these patterns as rules:
- Add 2 → “Start at 2, then +2 each time.”
- Multiply by 2 → “Start at 2, then ×2 each time.”
Activity 1 — Make Your Own Pattern
Grab paper or open a notes app.
- Write down 5 numbers that follow your own pattern.
(Example: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15) - Ask a friend to guess the next one!
- Explain your rule in words.
(What are you adding or multiplying by each time?)
Challenge: Can you make a tricky pattern — one that looks random but isn’t?
Activity 2 — Patterns in Nature
Look around your house or classroom. Where do you see repetition?
- Flower petals (often 3, 5, or 8 — the Fibonacci numbers!)
- Pinecones or seashells
- Spiral galaxies in space
You can even make a pattern scavenger hunt: take pictures or sketch your favorite real-world patterns.
Activity 3 — Secret Code Pattern
Let’s make it mysterious.
- Create a pattern rule and write down the first few numbers.
- Challenge your readers (or classmates) to find the next one.
Example:
5, 10, 20, 40, __ ?
What’s the rule?
How This Connects to Machine Learning
When a computer “learns,” it’s actually finding patterns in data — just like you did!
- When it recognizes a face, it sees repeating shapes and features.
- When it recommends a song, it finds patterns in what you’ve listened to.
- When it predicts tomorrow’s weather, it looks for patterns in past temperatures.
So when you practice finding patterns in math, you’re training the same kind of thinking that powers artificial intelligence.
Takeaway Message
Pattern-finding is the first step toward intelligence.
Math helps us describe patterns — machine learning helps computers find them.
Optional Extensions
For Teachers / Parents / Older Students:
Google Colab Notebook https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1p9o8SfnqCmr2o3DtYkSDf91gcX_1OQCl?usp=sharing
- Graph a pattern on paper (like y = 2x).
- Explore Fibonacci numbers visually using spirals.
