What is an ordered list of numbers that follow a specific pattern called?

An ordered list of numbers that follows a specific pattern is called a sequence. A sequence is defined by a particular rule or formula that dictates how to generate the next term from the previous ones. This ordered nature is crucial because it differentiates sequences from other groupings of numbers; the position of each number in the sequence matters. For example, the sequence of even numbers is {2, 4, 6, 8, ...}, where each term is generated based on the pattern of adding 2 to the previous term.

In addition, while other options may involve groups of numbers, they do not indicate an ordered progression that follows a specific pattern. A set, for instance, is simply a collection of distinct objects, with no regard for order. A collection is a more general term that refers to any grouping of items. A series, while related to sequences, specifically refers to the sum of the terms of a sequence rather than the ordered list itself. Therefore, the definition and characteristics of a sequence align precisely with the question asked.