6. \( 1,3,6,10,15,21, ?, ? \)
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Mind Expander
This sequence is known as the triangular numbers sequence! It starts with 1, and each term represents the total number of dots that can form an equilateral triangle. The next two numbers in the sequence are obtained by adding consecutive natural numbers to the last term. Following 21, the next number is 28 (21 + 7), and the one after that is 36 (28 + 8). So the complete sequence is \( 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, 36 \). If you look closely, you can spot a pattern! The differences between consecutive numbers are increasing by 1 each time: for example, \( 3-1=2 \), \( 6-3=3 \), \( 10-6=4 \), and so on. By recognizing these patterns, problem-solving in sequences can become a delightful puzzle instead of a daunting challenge!