Patterns & Reasoning

Problem

Complete addition and multiplication tables

Two grids are shown: part of an addition table and part of a multiplication table. Using the rule that values grow by a fixed step as you move right and as you move down, find the missing numbers in cells A, B, and C.
Addition table + 2 4 6 2 4 6 8 4 6 8 6 8 A 8 10 12 Multiplication table × 1 3 5 1 3 5 1 3 5 3 B 15 5 15 C
Operations
Your answer
How to solve
Strategy Look for a Pattern — Each table cell follows a simple rule (sum or product of its row and column heads), and reading along a row or column shows a constant step, so I find the pattern and fill each blank by its row and column heads.
1STEP 1

Fill A in the addition table

A is in the row headed 4 and the column headed 6, so A = 4 + 6 = 10.

4 + 6 = 10
2STEP 2

Build the multiplication table rule

Each multiplication cell is (left number) x (top number): row 1 gives 1, 3, 5; row 3 gives 3, 9, 15; row 5 gives 5, 15, 25.

1{×}1=1, 3{×}3=9, 5{×}5=25
3STEP 3

Fill B and C

The two blanks are B = 3 x 3 = 9 and C = 5 x 5 = 25, the interior cells the row and column rules land on.

3 × 3 = 9, 5 × 5 = 25
Answer
A = 10, B = 9, C = 25
In the addition table the row 6, 8, 10 and column 8, A, 10... all step by 2, so A = 10 is consistent. In the multiplication table 9 and 25 are the products 3x3 and 5x5, both matching the row-times-column rule.
Takeaway

Every table cell is just its row head combined with its column head, so once you spot the steady step you can fill any blank!

  • Fill A in the addition table
  • Build the multiplication table rule
  • Fill B and C
Where next?
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▶ Practice — 8 problems