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Triangles All Around

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow starYellow star
Primary curriculum
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You might like to have a look at Nine-Pin Triangles before trying this problem.

How many different triangles can you draw on a circular pegboard which has four equally spaced pegs?

What are the angles of each triangle?

If you have a six-peg circular pegboard, how many different triangles are possible now?

What are their angles?

How many different triangles could you draw on an eight-peg board?
Can you find the angles of each?

You may like to use the interactivity to try out your ideas. When you have selected the number of dots you need, select the line drawing tool, then click on two dots to draw a line between them. 

 

 


For printable sets of circle templates for use with this activity, please see our Printable Resources page.

Many thanks to Geoff Faux who introduced us to the merits of the nine-pin circular geoboard.

For further ideas about using geoboards in the classroom, please see Geoff's publications available through the Association of Teachers of Mathematics (search for 'geoboards').

 

 

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How many triangles can you make on the 3 by 3 pegboard?

Cutting Corners

Can you make the most extraordinary, the most amazing, the most unusual patterns/designs from these triangles which are made in a special way?

Bracelets

Investigate the different shaped bracelets you could make from 18 different spherical beads. How do they compare if you use 24 beads?

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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