Mathematically proficient students look closely to discern a pattern or structure. Young students, for example, might notice that three and seven more is the same amount as seven and three more, or they may sort a collection of shapes according to how many sides the shapes have. Later, students will see 7 × 8 equals the well remembered 7 × 5 + 7 × 3, in preparation for learning about the distributive property. In the expression 𝑥² + 9𝑥 + 14, older students can see the 14 as 2 × 7 and the 9 as 2 + 7. They recognize the significance of an existing line in a geometric figure and can use the strategy of drawing an auxiliary line for solving problems. They also can step back for an overview and shift perspective. They can see complicated things, such as some algebraic expressions, as single objects or as being composed of several objects. For example, they can see 5 – 3(𝑥 – 𝑦)² as 5 minus a positive number times a square and use that to realize that its value cannot be more than 5 for any real numbers 𝑥 and 𝑦.
Lessons for this standard
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Related standards
- This standard is part of: 7
- This standard is derived from: Mathematically proficient students look closely to discern a pattern or structure
Similar standards in other grades
Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
In the early grades, students notice repetitive actions in counting and computation, etc. For example, they may notice that the next number in a counting sequence is one more. When counting by tens, the next number in the sequence is “ten more” (or one more group of ten). In addition, students continually check their work by asking themselves, “Does this make sense?”
Younger students begin to discern a pattern or structure. For instance, students recognize the pattern that exists in the teen numbers; every teen number is written with a 1 (representing one ten) and ends with the digit that is first stated. They also recognize that 3 + 2 = 5 and 2 + 3 = 5.
Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
Similar standards elsewhere
Mathematically proficient students use structure and patterns to assist in making connections among mathematical ideas or concepts when making sense of mathematics. Students recognize and apply general mathematical rules to complex situations. They are able to compose and decompose mathematical ideas and notations into familiar relationships. Mathematically proficient students manage their own progress, stepping back for an overview and shifting perspective when needed.
Students routinely seek patterns or structure to model and solve problems. They recognize that patterns exist in ratio tables and make connections with the constant of proportionality in a table and the slope of a graph. Students recognize patterns and identify and develop strategies for creating equivalent expressions. Students identify complicated expressions or figures as compositions of simple parts.
Recognize and apply the structures of mathematics such as patterns, place value, the properties of operations, or the flexibility of numbers. See complicated things as single objects or as being composed of several objects.
Look closely at mathematical relationships to identify the underlying structure by recognizing a simple structure within a more complicated structure. See complicated things, such as some algebraic expressions, as single objects or as being composed of several objects. For example, see 5 – 3(x – y)² as 5 minus a positive number times a square and use that to realize that its value cannot be more than 5 for any real numbers x and y.
Mathematically proficient students look closely to discern a pattern or structure. Young students, for example, might notice that three and seven more is the same amount as seven and three more, or they may sort a collection of shapes according to how many sides the shapes have. Later, students will see 7 × 8 equals the well-remembered 7 × 5 + 7 × 3, in preparation for learning about the distributive property. In the expression 𝑥² + 9𝑥 + 14, older students can see the 14 as 2 × 7 and the 9 as 2 + 7. They recognize the significance of an existing line in a geometric figure and can use the strategy of drawing an auxiliary line for solving problems. They also can step back for an overview and shift perspective. They can see complicated things, such as some algebraic expressions, as single objects or as being composed of several objects. For example, they can see 5 – 3(𝑥 – 𝑦)² as 5 minus a positive number times a square and use that to realize that its value cannot be more than 5 for any real numbers 𝑥 and 𝑦.