Mathematical Habits of Mind: Regularity Patterns Structure
Regularity Patterns Structure is an important Mathematical Habit of Mind (MHom) that involves noticing and reasoning about the regularity and structure in mathematical concepts and problems. This involves looking for and expressing regularity in repeated reasoning and patterns, as well as recognizing and using the underlying structure in a problem or situation. Developing this MHoM can help you become a more confident and capable mathematician, and can help you better understand and solve problems.
To practice regularity patterns structure, pay attention to the patterns and structure in math problems and use this information to help you solve problems. Look for regularity in your reasoning and try to express it clearly. Recognize and use regularity to relate input to output, and structure data in a meaningful way.
Planning a weekly schedule, cooking a recipe, creating a budget, and playing a musical instrument all involve recognizing and reasoning about regularity, patterns, and structure. For example, when you create a weekly schedule, you are recognizing and reasoning about the regularity of certain activities happening at the same time each week. You are also using structure by organizing the activities into blocks of time and placing them in a specific order. When you follow a recipe to cook a meal, you are recognizing and reasoning about the repeated steps and measurements involved in the process. You are also using structure by following the order of the instructions and using specific ingredients in specific amounts. When you solve a puzzle, you are recognizing and reasoning about the patterns and structure in the puzzle pieces and how they fit together. You are also using structure by organizing the pieces and following a logical process to fit them together.