January 30, 2006 | Pattern Blocks

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Rocket Activity

Applets

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NCTM illuminations
http://illuminations.nctm.org/tools/patchtool/patchtool.asp

 

A Pattern Block Inquiry


You can make equilateral triangles of different sizes using four of the six pattern blocks: The triangle (green), the parallelogram (blue), the trapezoid (red), and the hexagon (yellow). Suppose each of these blocks has the following value:

Triangle 1¢
Parallelogram 3¢
Trapezoid 5¢
Hexagon 11¢

What can you say about the most valuable triangles of sizes 3x3x3? 4x4x4? 5x5x5?...(Go as far as you can.) What about the least valuable triangles?

Observations from St. Rose Students:

  • The triangle made up with all green triangles is the least expensive.
  • There's a pattern with the least expensive triangles.
  • 3 trapezoids make up the most expensive 3x3x3 triangle.
  • You can use symbols to represent an equation for the value of a triangle.
  • We used trial and error when making triangles.
  • Values when using all green is...
    • 3x3 = 9
    • 4x4=16
    • 5x5=25...
  • Algebra connection 1(trap)+2(par)+2(tri)=12 cents
  • Pattern blocks help to make more visible.
Captial Area Technology and Inquiry in Education | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | www.cipce.rpi.edu
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