Expert: Sherman D. - 7/16/2007

Question
I am trying to find out the name of a particular mathematics subject. But I do not know what it is called. I was hoping you can help.

If you have a list of numbers, you can analysis it to see what the pattern is, using different methods, such as seeing how much each number increases by. For example, if the list of numbers was 20, 40, 60, 80, you can see the numbers are increasing by 20 each time.

What is the name of the area of mathematics called that can be used to find patterns in numbers or data. Also, what are the names of a few simple methods can be used to work out what the pattern in the data is.


Answer
arithmetic sequence
www.ltcconline.net/greenl/Courses/103B/seqSeries/ARITSEQ.HTM

you can also have geometric sequence
www.mathguide.com/lessons/SequenceGeometric.html

also the sum of those sequences is a arithmetic series and geometric series.

if the pattern continues on the same path, you can use an arithmetic or geometric sequence to find out what the number will be far down the line.

is this what you were looking for.