Use the clues below to create a colourful pattern above. Click on the squares multiple times to change the colours.
✓✗ | The ratio of red to green is 7:6. |
✓✗ | All four corner squares are the same colour. |
✓✗ | The ratio of green to blue is 1:1. |
✓✗ | The squares at the ends of the centre column are yellow. |
✓✗ | The ratio of red to yellow is 7:6 |
✓✗ | The pattern has one line of symmetry. |
✓✗ | The column on the left has two red squares. |
✓✗ | The ratio of yellow to green is 1:1. |
✓✗ | One (and only one) of the diagonals is completely red |
✓✗ | The squares at the ends of the centre row are yellow. |
✓✗ | The top row is the same as the bottom row. |
✓✗ | The left column is the same as the right column. |
✓✗ | Every fourth square is blue (reading from left to right like reading a book). |
✓✗ | The square in row 2 column 2 is yellow. |
✓✗ | Neither diagonal has any blue or green squares. |
When you think you have finished check through all of the clues one by one to make sure your pattern is correct.
CheckThis is Pattern Clues level 2. You can also try:
Level 1
Level 3
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This interactive, self-checking activity is based on a groupwork task from SMP 11-16 (Cambridge University Press). In the original SMP version the clues were printed on cards. The cards were dealt out face-down to the members of a small group of four or five pupils.
The pupils were allowed to read out the information on any of their cards at any time and as often as they wished but they were not allowed to show their cards to anyone else.
The group then had to recreate the pattern using real counters on a printed grid.
There were 20 clues in the original SMP version.
Here are some other activities on the Transum website you may be interested in:
Mr Taylor, Gartree High School, Leicester
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
"This really got my year 7s thinking!
A worksheet to accompany the interactive version would be ideal for when pupils do not have a computer each. I made one for myself and 4 to a page of A4 was about the right size."
Jeremy, Taiwan
Thursday, October 31, 2013
"Are there any answers?
[Transum: The answers are only available to teachers who have subscribed to Transum's Class Admin]"
Ben Rickles, 8Y3
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
"I have found an answer. I liked solving this problem because I thought it was difficult but I was able to find an answer."
Ross Mccartney, 8y3
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
"I am in Year 8 and I completed it in about 15 minutes and I loved doing it. I am now trying to work out how to do another pattern."
Reece,
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
"It was really complicated but I got it I completed it in 30 minutes."
Jack Rourke,
Monday, February 2, 2015
"It was very hard but make sure you keep looking at the clues."
Miss Shaws Class, 7.2
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
"Year 7 at Canon Lee solved this problem and enjoyed working on it."
Sophie Year 8, Tomlinscote School Yr8
Friday, November 25, 2016
"My class solved it in just under 5 minutes. It was a nice challenge."
Jeff Nike, Australia
Monday, July 3, 2017
"It was very hard to do and was challenging."
Sarah Stephens, Ballarat Central
Saturday, October 7, 2017
"It would be great if you could turn the squares back to white.
[Transum: Thanks for the suggestion Sarah. Now when you continue clicking on a square it will cycle back to white after yellow.]"
Pak Yuen, Twitter
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Freddie, Hidden Grange School
Monday, November 18, 2019
"This was amazing I loved working on it and hopefully you will make more challenging questions!
Thank you Transum."
Robert, Westfield Secondary School
Monday, November 23, 2020
"It really got me thinking it was very fun but I managed to find an answer."
Year 7 King’s College School, Cambridge
Monday, November 27, 2023
"Had a group of year 7’s who enjoyed the challenge and managed to complete within the specified time! Harder challenges if possible please would be great."
KarlchenKnack11, Germany
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
"I am a grade 7 student and it was quite challenging. I kept getting stuck on symmetry because I did not know what the question asked for. Overall great puzzle. I have the answers here: gryrg/gryrg/gybyg/gryrg/gryrg These are the rows from top to bottom, left to right. G=green, R=Red Y=yellob B=blue."