7 2

1 5

© 2004 All rights reserved

 Pascal’s Triangle: The Stepping Stone Game

How many different routes

are there from the Start
stone to the Finish stone?
Rules:
Stepping Stone You can only walk
East
Game or
South
from any stone.
We will start by looking at 5
possible routes (be careful
how you walk)
 Pascal’s Triangle: The Stepping Stone Game

1 1 1 1 1 How many routes are there

to:

1 2

1
 Pascal’s Triangle: The Stepping Stone Game

1 1 1 1 1 How many routes are there

to:

1 2 3

1
 Pascal’s Triangle: The Stepping Stone Game

1 1 1 1 1 How many routes are there

to:

1 2 3

1 3

1
 Pascal’s Triangle: The Stepping Stone Game

1 1 1 1 1 How many routes are there

to:

Can you see all 6 of the

routes?
1 2 3
How could you have
calculated the 6 routes
without the need to draw or
1 3 6 visualise them?

1
 Pascal’s Triangle: The Stepping Stone Game

1 1 1 1 1 How many routes are there

to:
3 routes to
this stone Can you see all 6 of the
routes?
1 2 3
How could you have
Why must there
calculated the 6 routes
be 6 routes to
without the need to draw or
here?
1 3 6 visualise them?
What do you have to do
3 routes to to get the number of
this stone routes to any stone?
1

1
 Pascal’s Triangle: The Stepping Stone Game

1 1 1 1 1 How many routes are there

to:

Can you see all 6 of the

routes?
1 2 3 4 5
How could you have
calculated the 6 routes
without the need to draw or
1 3 6 10 15 visualising them?
What do you have to do
to get the number of
routes to any stone?
1 4 10 20 35
Calculate the total
number of routes to
the finish stone.
1 5 15 35 70
 Pascal’s Triangle: The Stepping Stone Game

1 1 1 1 1 The numbers are

Do you noticeabout
symmetrical anything
the
about the numbers
diagonal line.
produced by the routes
through to thenumbers
Counting finish
1 2 3 4 5 stone?

6 Triangular numbers
1 3 10 15

1 4 10 20 35 Tetrahedral numbers
Square Pyramid
base numbers

1 5 15 35 70
1 5 14 30
 Pascal’s R0 1 1 =20 1. Complete the rest of the triangle.
Triangle 2. Find the sum of each row.
R1 1 1 2 =21
3. Write the sum as a power of 2.
R2 1 2 1 4 =22
R3 1 3 3 1 8 =23 Counting/Natural Numbers

R4 1 4 6 4 1 16 =24
Blaisé Pascal
(1623-1662) 1
R5 5 10 10 5 1 32 =25
Triangular Numbers
R6 1 6 15 20 15 6 1 64 =26

R7 1 7 21 35 35 21 7 1 128 =27

R8 1 8 28 56 70 56 28 8 1 256 =28

R9 1 9 36 84 126 126 84 36 9 1 512 =29 Tetrahedral Numbers

R10 1 10 45 120 210 252 210 120 45 10 1 1024 =210

R11 1 Pascal’s
11 55 165 330 462 462 330 165 55 11 1 2048 =211

R12 1 12 66 220 495Triangle

792 924 792 495 220 66 12 1 4096 =212 Pyramid
Numbers
R13 1 13 78 286 715 1287 1716 1716 1287 715 286 78 13 1 8192 =213 (square
base)
 The Fibonacci Sequence
1
Add the numbers shown
along each of the 1 1 1 1 2 3 5 8 13
shallow diagonals to find
Leonardo
another of Pisa
well known 1 2 1 21 34 55 89 144 233 377
1180 - 1250
sequence of numbers. 1 3 3 1
The sequence first appears as a
Fibonacci travelled 1 4 6 4 1 recreational maths problem
extensively throughout about the growth in population
the Middle East and 1 5 10 10 5 1 of rabbits in book 3 of his
elsewhere. He strongly famous work, Liber – abaci (the
recommended that
1 6 15 20 15 6 1 book of the calculator).
Europeans adopt the 1 7 21 35 35 21 7 1
Indo-Arabic system of
numerals including the 1 8 28 56 70 56 28 8 1
use of a symbol for
zero “zephirum” 1 9 36 84 126 126 84 36 9 1
1 10 45 120 210 252 210 120 45 10 1
1 Fibonacci
11 55 165 330 462 462 330 165 55 11 1
1 12 Sequence
66 220 495 792 924 792 495 220 66 12 1
1 13 78 286 715 1287 1716 1716 1287 715 286 78 13 1
 Activity: There are 5 Choose Possibilities No of Ways
books on a shelf.
Complete the table to 0 books - 1
find the number of
ways that you can 1 book A,B,C,D,E 5
choose 0, 1, 2, 3, 4
AB, AC,AD, AE
and 5 books.
BC, BD, BE
2 books
CD, CE

A B C D E ABC, ABD, ABE

ACD, ACE
ADE
3 books
BCD, BCE
BDE,
You will need to think
CDE
systematically!
ABCD, ABCE
ABDE
4 books
ACDE

Books 5 BCDE
ABCDE
5 books
 Activity: There are 5 Choose Possibilities No of Ways
books on a shelf.
Complete the table to 0 books - 1
find the number of
ways that you can 1 book A,B,C,D,E 5
choose 0, 1, 2, 3, 4
AB, AC,AD, AE
and 5 books.
BC, BD, BE
2 books 10
CD, CE
DE
A B C D E ABC, ABD, ABE
ACD, ACE
ADE
3 books 10
BCD, BCE
BDE,
You will need to think
CDE
systematically!
ABCD, ABCE
ABDE
Relate these numbers to 4 books 5
ACDE
entries in Pascal’s triangle. BCDE

5 books ABCDE 1
 5 Books
R0 1
0 1 2 3 4 5
R1 1 1
A B C D E
R2 1 2 1 1 5 10 10 5 1

R3 1 3 3 1
Choose 0 Choose 1 Choose 2 The entries in row 5 give the
R4 1 4 6 4 1 number of combinations of
choosing 0,1,2,3,4 and 5
R5 1 5 10 10 5 1 books respectively.
R6 1 6 15 20 15 6 1
Choose 5
R7 1 Choose
7 21 335 Choose
35 21 47 1

R8 1 8 28 56 70 56 28 8 1

R9 1 9 36 84 126 126 84 36 9 1

R10 1 10 45 120 210 252 210 120 45 10 1

So if you wanted to know the probability of
R11 1 11 one
choosing 55 165 330 462
particular 462 330 165
combination of 255 11 1
books
at random, then the probability is 1/10
R12 1 12 66 220 495 792 924 792 495 220 66 12 1

R13 1 13 78 286 715 1287 1716 1716 1287 715 286 78 13 1

 No of
Activity: There are 6 balls Choose Possibilities
Ways
in a box as shown below.
-
Complete the table to find 0 balls 1
the number of ways that
you can choose 0,1,2, 1 ball 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 6
3,4,5 and 6 balls from the 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
box. 23, 24, 25, 26,
2 balls 34, 35, 36,
45, 46,
56
123, 124, 125, 126 134, 135, 136,
145, 146, 156,
3 balls
234, 235, 236, 245, 246, 256, 345, 346,
356, 456
1234, 1235, 1236, 1245, 1246, 1256,
You will need to think even 4 balls 1345, 1346, 1356, 1456,
more systematically! 2345, 2346, 2356, 2456, 3456,
12345, 12346, 12356, 12456, 13456,
5 balls
23456

6 balls 123456
 No of
Activity: There are 6 balls Choose Possibilities
Ways
in a box as shown below.
-
Complete the table to find 0 balls 1
the number of ways that
you can choose 0,1,2, 1 ball 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 6
3,4,5 and 6 balls from the 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
box. 23, 24, 25, 26,
2 balls 34, 35, 36, 15
45, 46,
56
123, 124, 125, 126, 134, 135, 136,
145, 146, 156,
3 balls 20
234, 235, 236, 245, 246, 256, 345,
346, 356, 456
1234, 1235, 1236, 1245, 1246, 1256,
You will need to think even 4 balls 1345, 1346, 1356, 1456, 15
more systematically! 2345, 2346, 2356, 2456, 3456
12345, 12346, 12356, 12456, 13456,
5 balls 6
Relate these numbers to 23456
entries in Pascal’s triangle.
6 balls 123456 1
 6 Balls
R0 1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
R1 1 1

R2 1 2 1 1 6 15 20 15 6 1

R3 1 3 3 1 The entries in row 6 give the

1 4 16 Choose
4 1 2 number of combinations of
ChooseR04 Choose
choosing 0,1,2,3,4,5 and 6
R5 1 5 10 10 5 1 balls respectively.
R6 1 6 15 20 15 6 1
Choose 6
R7 1 7 21 35 35 21 7 1

R8 1 8Choose
28 56 Choose
3 70 56 284 8Choose
1 5

R9 1 9 36 84 126 126 84 36 9 1

1 if 10 120 45 10 1
R10 So you 45 120 210
wanted to know 210probability
252 the of
R11 1choosing
11 55 one 165particular combination
330 462 462 330 165 of
553 11 1
balls at random, then the probability is 1/20
R12 1 12 66 220 495 792 924 792 495 220 66 12 1

R13 1 13 78 286 715 1287 1716 1716 1287 715 286 78 13 1

 12 Balls
nC
Use Pascal’s triangle R0 1

r
to determine how 1 2 3 4
many ways there are R1 1 1
of choosing: 1 2 1 n choose r 5 6 7 8
R2
(a) 2 balls 66 9 10 11 12
R3 1 3 3 1
(b) 5 balls 792
R4 1 4 6 4 1
Find the combination key
(c) 9 balls 220
R5 1 5 10 10 5 1 on a scientific calculator
and evaluate.
R6 1 6 15 20 15 6 1
1 7 21 35 35 21 7 1 12C
2
R
The
7 probability of choosing one particular
combination
1 8 28 of 556
balls70is 1/792
56 28 8 1
R8 12 choose 2

12C
R9 1 9 36 84 126 126 84 36 9 1

R10 Balls 12
1 10 45 120 210 252 210 120 45 10 1
Choose 0 5
1 11 55 165 330 462 462 330 165 55 11 1 12 choose 5
R11
R12 1 12 66 220 495 792 924 792 495 220 66 12 1 12C
R13 1 13 78 286 715 1287 1716 1716 1287 715 286 78 13 1 9
12 choose 9
 8 Books
nC
Use Pascal’s triangle R0 1

r
to determine how
many ways there are R1 1 1
of choosing: 1 2 1
R2
(a) 3 books 56
R3 1 3 3 1
(b) 4 books 70
R4 1 4 6 4 1
(c) 6 books 28
R5 1 5 10 10 5 1
Now do it on a calculator.
R6 1 6 15 20 15 6 1
Choose 0
R7 1 7 21 35 35 21 7 1 8C
R8 1 8 28 56 70 56 28 8 1 3
Books
36 84 126 1268 1
8C
R9 1 9 84 36 9

R10 1 10 45 120 210 252 210 120 45 10 1

The probability of choosing one particular
4
R11 1 11 55 165 330 462 462 330 165 55 11 1
combination of 4 books is 1/70
1 12 66 220 495 792 924 792 495 220 66 12 1 8C
6
R12
R13 1 13 78 286 715 1287 1716 1716 1287 715 286 78 13 1
 R0 1
nC R1 1 1
r R2 1 2 1

R3 1 3 3 1
R4 1 4 6 In how many ways can
4 1
a 5-a-side team be
R5 1 5 10 10 5 1 chosen from a squad
of 10 players?
1 6 15 20 15 6 1
TheR6probability of choosing one particular
combination
R 1 7of 521players
35 35is 1/252
21 7 1 252
7

1 8 28 56 70 56 28 8 1
R8 Choose 0
R9 1 9 36 84 126 126 84 36 9 1 10C
R10 1 10 45 120 210 252 210 120 45 10 1 5
R11 1 11 55 165 330 462 462 330 165 55 11 1

R12 1 5-a-side
12 66 220 495 792 924 792 495 220 66 12 1
R13 1 13 78 286 715 1287 1716 1716 1287 715 286 78 13 1
Remember: The top row is Row 0 1
1 1
Use Pascal’s triangle to
determine the number of 1 2 1
combinations for each of
1 3 3 1
the following selections.
1 4 6 4 1
1 5 10 10 5 1
1 6 15 20 15 6 1
1 7 21 35 35 21 7 1
1 8 28 56 70 56 28 8 1
1 9 36 84 126 126 84 36 9 1

1 10 45 120 210 252 210 120 45 10 1

1 11 55 165 330 462 462 330 165 55 11 1
1 12 66 220 495 792 924 792 495 220 66 12 1
1 13 78 286 715 1287 1716 1716 1287 715 286 78 13 1
A 1
C

1 1
1 2 1
1 3 3 1 Choose 7 cards
1 4 6 4 1
Choose 3 books
1 5 10 10 5 1
1 6 15 20 15 6 1
B D
1 2 3
1 7 21 35 35 21 7 1
1 8 28 56 70 56 28 8 1 4 5 6

1 9 36 84 126 126 84 36 9 1 7 8 9

1 10 45 120 210 252 210 120 45 10 1 Choose 4 balls

Choose 5
players 1 11 55 165 330 462 462 330 165 55 11 Mix 1
1 12 66 220 495 792 924 792 495 220 66 12 1
1 13 78 286 715 1287 1716 1716 1287 715 286 78 13 1
 National Lottery Jackpot? 49 balls choose 6
1
12 49 11 33 15
21 1 1 38
7 30 1 2 1 36
31 25
17
1 3 3 1 24
20 1 35
45 3 1 4 6 4 1 14
13 37
1 5 10 10 5 1 19
43 39 22
16 1 6 15 20 15 6 1
40 44
9 4
1 7 21 35 35 21 7 1
46 47 32

42
29
5
34

1
1
1
9
8

?
28 56 70 56 28
36 84 126 126 84 36
10 45 120 210 252 210 120 45 10
8
9
1
1
1
23
6
8

26

10 1 11 55 165 330 462 462 330 165 55 11 1 41

18
28
1 Lottery
12 66 220 495 792 924 792 495 220 66 12 1 27
2 1 13 78 286 715 1287 1716 1716 1287 715 286 78 13 1 48
 National Lottery Jackpot? Row 0 49 balls choose 6
12 49 11 33 15
21 38
7 30 36
31 25
17
24
20 1 35
45 3 14
49C
13 37
6
19
43 39 22
16 40 44
9 4
46 There are 13 983 816 ways of 47 32
34 choosing 6 balls from a set of 8
2
49. So buying a single ticket
29 means that the probability of a 23 26
5
42 win is 1/13 983 816 6
10 41
18
28 Choose 6
27
Row 49
13 983 816 48
 Pascal’s Triangle on a Spreadsheet

1. Enter 1’s along rows and

A B C D E F G … down columns. Go down to
row 50 for jackpot odds.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Spreadsheet
 Pascal’s Triangle on a Spreadsheet

1. Enter 1’s along rows and

A B C D E F G … down columns. Go down to
row 50 for jackpot odds.
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2. In cell B2 enter the
2 1 formula =B1+A2 then fill
right.
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
 Pascal’s Triangle on a Spreadsheet

1. Enter 1’s along rows and

A B C D E F G … down columns. Go down to
row 50 for jackpot odds.
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2. In cell B2 enter the
2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 formula =B1+A2 then fill
right.
3 1
3. Fill down as far as row
4 1 50. Remember that row 1
on the spreadsheet
5 1 corresponds to row 0 in
Pascal’s triangle.
6 1
7 1
8 1
 Pascal’s Triangle on a Spreadsheet

1. Enter 1’s along rows and

A B C D E F G … down columns. Go down to
row 50 for jackpot odds
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2. In cell B2 enter the
2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 formula =B1+A2 then fill
right.
3 1 3 6 10 15 21 28
3. Fill down as far as row
4 1 4 10 20 35 56 84 50. Remember that row 1
on the spreadsheet
5 1 5 15 35 70 126 210 corresponds to row 0 in
Pascal’s triangle.
6 1 6 21 56 126 252 462
4. Use a step-up
7 1 7 28 84 210 462 924 procedure to see each row
more clearly.
8 1 8 36 120 330 792 1716

Row 3 Row 6
 Pascal’s Triangle on a Spreadsheet

42 1 42

43 1 43
13 983 816
44 1 44

45 1 45
Row 49
46 1 46

47 1 47
6th entry
48 1 48

49 1 49

50 1 50
 Historical Note

Pascal was a French mathematician whose contemporaries

and fellow countrymen included Fermat, Descartes and
Blaisé Pascal Mersenne. Among his many achievements was the
(1623-1662) construction of a mechanical calculating machine to help his
father with his business. It was able to add and subtract only,
but it was a milestone on the road to the age of computers.
He corresponded with Fermat on problems that led to the new
branch of mathematics called Probability Theory. The two
Historical Note
problems that they examined concerned outcomes when
throwing dice and how to divide the stake fairly amongst a
group of players if a game was interrupted.
These investigations led Pascal to construct tables of
probabilities that eventually led to the triangle of probabilities
that bears his name.

Pierre de Fermat
(1601 – 1675)
 The Binomial Expansion

Pascal used his triangle to find the coefficients in the expansion of (a + b)n
The coefficients of each term correspond to the entries in the nth row.

1
Binomial Expansion 1 1
(a + b)2 = a2 +2ab +b2 1 2 1
(a + b)3 = a3 +3a2b +3ab2 + b3 1 3 3 1
(a + b)4 = a4 + 4a3b +6a2b2 + 4ab3 + b4 1 4 6 4 1

(a + b)5 = a5 + 5a4b +10a3b2 + 10a2b3 + 5ab4 +b5 1 5 10 10 5 1

1 6 15 20 15 6 1
1 7 21 35 35 21 7 1
1 8 28 56 70 56 28 8 1

(a + b)8 = a8 + a7b + a6b2 + a5b3 + a4b4 + a3b5 + a2b6 + ab7 + b8

(a + b)8 = a8 + 8a7b + 28a6b2 + 56a5b3 + 70a4b4 + 56a3b5 + 28a2b6 + 8ab7 + b8

 1
1 1
1 2 1
1 3 3 1
1 4 6 4 1
1 5 10 10 5 1
1 6 15 20 15 6 1
1 7 21 35 35 21 7 1
1 8 28 56 70 56 28 8 1
1 9 36 84 126 126 84 36 9 1

1 10 45 120 210 252 210 120 45 10 1

1 Worksheet 3
11 55 165 330 462 462 330 165 55 11 1
1 12 66 220 495 792 924 792 495 220 66 12 1
1 13 78 286 715 1287 1716 1716 1287 715 286 78 13 1