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Investigating Pascal's Triangle

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
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You can probably see all kinds of things to explore. Those of you who are familiar with spreadsheets can extend the pattern further. You would put 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 1, 2, etc across the top and then you have to add the first 1 with nothing/zero that's beneath it to get the next line started. Let me show you clearly, here's the first part of the spreadsheet I used:
2bSpreadPic
So, row 2 is simply the numerals going 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.
Row 3; C3 is made from B3 + B2; D3 = C2 + C3 etc.[C3 = 1 + 0, D3 = 2 + 1 etc.]
Row 4, is made up in the same way so, D4= C3 + C4, etc.

So those formulae can be put in easily and then dragged through the other cells.
BUT we are dealing with digital roots which the computer deals with as MOD 9 [a kind of clock going from 1 to 9].

Let's have a look at the formulae that we need for the 4 cells in row 3, they are as follows,

Formula
Once you have these you can drag the formulae through more cells to the right and also down.

In this way you can extend the pattern as long as the spreadsheet will allow.

Enjoy!

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The Great Tiling Count

Compare the numbers of particular tiles in one or all of these three designs, inspired by the floor tiles of a church in Cambridge.

Transformations Tables

These grids are filled according to some rules - can you complete them?

Smaller and Smaller

Can you predict, without drawing, what the perimeter of the next shape in this pattern will be if we continue drawing them in the same way?

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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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