Use common pattern types (add/subtract, multiply/divide, alternating) - CogAT Grades K 2

Look at the pattern below. What number comes next? $2, 6, 4, 8, 6, 10, 8, ?$
Answer: $12$ This is an alternating pattern. The odd positions (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th) follow: 2, 4, 6, 8 (adding 2 each time). The even positions (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th) follow: 6, 8, 10, ? (also adding 2 each time). So the 8th position should be 10 + 2 = 12.
Tommy has 4 stickers. Every day, he gets 3 more stickers but gives away 1 sticker. After 3 days, how many stickers will Tommy have?
Answer: $10$ Tommy starts with 4 stickers. Each day he gains 3 but loses 1, so he gains 2 stickers per day. After 3 days: 4 + (2 × 3) = 4 + 6 = 10 stickers.
Look at this growing pattern: $1, 4, 2, 8, 3, 12, 4, ?$ If the pattern continues, what comes next?
Answer: $16$ This is an alternating pattern. The odd positions are: 1, 2, 3, 4 (counting numbers). The even positions are: 4, 8, 12, ? (multiples of 4). Since 4×4=16, the next number is 16.
Look at the pattern: $7, 14, 12, 24, 22, 44, 42, ?$ What is the next number?
Answer: $84$ This alternating pattern has two operations: multiply by 2, then subtract 2. Starting with 7: 7 → 14 (×2), 14 → 12 (-2), 12 → 24 (×2), 24 → 22 (-2), 22 → 44 (×2), 44 → 42 (-2), 42 → 84 (×2).