Pattern

Pattern is a regular and repeated arrangement of shapes, colors, sounds, or ideas. Patterns help people recognize order in the world. They appear in many forms — from the stripes on a zebra to the rhythm in music or the design on fabric. A pattern can be made by repeating something again and again, or by following a specific rule or plan.

In nature, patterns can be seen in many living and non-living things. The petals of a flower often grow in repeated shapes, and seashells form spirals as they grow. Snowflakes have symmetrical patterns, where each side mirrors the other. Animals, such as tigers or butterflies, have markings that follow specific arrangements, which can help them hide or attract others.

In mathematics, patterns help describe how numbers or shapes change. For example, the sequence 2, 4, 6, 8 follows a rule of adding two each time. Recognizing such patterns helps people make predictions and solve problems. geometry also studies patterns of shapes, lines, and angles that fit together in regular ways.

In art and design, patterns are used to create beauty, balance, and structure. Artists, architects, and textile makers often repeat lines, colors, and forms to make designs look organized. A pattern in a painting might use repeating circles or waves. Buildings may have windows or tiles arranged in symmetrical ways to create a pleasing appearance.

Human behavior and language also show patterns. People form daily routines that repeat, such as eating meals or going to school at the same times each day. In speech, sound patterns appear in poems, songs, and rhymes. These patterns make it easier to remember words and give rhythm to language.

Patterns can also change or grow. A simple pattern can combine with others to form a more complex one. Recognizing and understanding patterns helps people study science, design technology, and organize information. In many subjects, the study of patterns is one way to understand how systems work and how things are connected.