GR8 INVESTIGATION NUMBER PATTERNS

MATHEMATICS -INVESTIGATION
(NUMBER PATTERNS)
GRADE 8
Marks:55
Examiner: E van der Merwe Time: 1hour
Moderator: HOD at school Date:Term 2 2021

INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION

Read the instructions carefully before answering the questions.

1. This Investigation should be done in class, under exam conditions.

2. This Investigation consist of FIVE questions.

3. Answer ALL the questions on paper, but refer to Annexure A for completing tables in
Questions 2.1 ; 3.4.1 ; 3.4.2 ; 4.1.3 and 5.2.

4. You may use an approved scientific calculator (non-programmable and non-graphical),

unless otherwise indicated.

5. If necessary, round answers to TWO decimal places, unless stated otherwise.

6. Write neatly and legibly.

QUESTION 1

TERMINOLOGY

 sequence list of numbers which form a pattern is called a

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sequence.

 term Each number in a sequence is called a term of the

sequence.

 term 1 (T 1) The first number is the first term

of the sequence also indicated with the symbol T 1

This means that T 2=term 2 and T 3=term 3 etc.

 consecutive. Numbers that follow one another are said to be

consecutive.

Example: 1 ; 3; 5 ; 7

 constant difference When the differences between consecutive terms of a

sequence are the same, we say the difference is
constant.

Example 1: 1 ; 3; 5 ; 7 … .

The constant difference for the sequence above is +2

Example 2: 13 ; 9 ; 5 ; 1… .

The constant difference for the sequence above is −4

Study the number pattern below to answer the questions.

3 ; 7 ; 11; 15 … ..

1.1 Give the first number in the sequence. (1)

1.2 Give the value of term 4 ( T 4) (1)

1.3 Give the constant difference. (1)

1.4 Patterns allow us to make predictions.

What will the value of T 5 be? (1)

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QUESTION 2

Going from one term to the next:

Note: Not all patterns have a constant difference, but the pattern still forms a
sequence where we can predict the next terms.
2.1 Study the number patterns below to complete the table for each sequence:
Write down the next TWO
numbers in each of the sequences
below
Sequence A: 5; 8; 11; 14; ….

Sequence B: 4; 5; 8; 13; ……

Sequence C: 1; 2; 4; 8; ….

Sequence D: 3; 5; 7; 9; ….

Sequence E: 4; 5; 7; 10; ….

Sequence F: 1; 5; 9; 13; ……

Sequence G: 1; 1; 2; 3; 5; ……

(8)
2.2 Which sequences in the previous Question (2.1) have a constant
difference like sequence A? (2)

 Amanda explains how she figured out how to continue sequence A:

I looked at the first two numbers in the sequence and saw that I needed 3 to go from 5
to 8.
I looked further and saw that I also needed 3 to go from 8 to 11.
I tested that and it worked for all the next numbers.
This gave me a rule I could use to extend the sequence: add 3 to each number to find
the next number in the pattern.

2.3 (i) Provide a rule to describe the relationship between the numbers in the
sequences below.

(ii) Use this rule to calculate the next TWO number in the sequence.

2.3.1 1 ; 8 ; 15; 22……. (2)

2.3.2 0 ; 1 ,5 ; 3 ; 4 , 5……. (2)

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QUESTION 3

Using tables to predict the rule of a pattern:

3.1 Let’s take another look at sequence A: 5 ; 8 ; 11; ...

 Sizwe has been thinking about Amanda’s explanations of how she worked out
the rule for sequence A and has drawn up a table. He agrees with her rule but
says that there is another rule that will also work.
He explains: My table shows the terms in the sequence and the difference between
consecutive terms:
1st term 2nd term 3rd term 4th term 7th term 10th term
A: 5 8 11 14
Constant
difference +3+3+ 3
1 ×3+2 2 ×3+2 3 ×3+2 4 ×3+2

Sizwe reasons that the following rule will also work:

Multiply the position of the number by 3∧add 2 ¿the answer .

Example to check:
T 1=¿ 1 ×3+2=5

T 2=¿ 2 ×3+2=8

T 3=3 ×3+2=11

3.1.1 What do the numbers in bold in Sizwe’s number sentence stand for? (1)

3.1.2 What does the number 3 in Sizwe’s number sentence stand for? (1)

3.1.3 Apply Sizwe’s rule to the sequence and determine:

(a) term number 7 of the sequence. (2)

(b) the 100th term of the sequence. (2)

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3.2 Let’s take another look at sequence A: 5 ; 8 ; 11; ...

 Peter has been thinking about Amanda and Sizwe’s explanations of how they
worked out a rule for sequence A and has drawn up a table. He agrees with
them but says that there is another rule that will also work.
He explains: My table shows the terms in the sequence with each term written in
terms of the first term and the difference between consecutive terms:
1st term 2nd term 3rd term 4th term 11th term 31th term
A: 5 8 11 14

5 5+3 5+3+3 5+3+3+ 3

Example to check:
T 1=¿ 5+0 ( 3 )=5

T 2=¿ 5+1(3)=8

T 3=5+2(3)=11

Apply Peter’s rule to the sequence and determine:

(a) term number 11 of the sequence. (2)

(b) the 31st term of the sequence. (2)

3.3 Consider the sequence:

4 ; 6 ; 8 ; 10 ;12 ; … .

Determine the 51st term of the sequence, using Peter’s rule.

Show ALL your calculations. (3)

3.4  Use either Sizwe’s or Peter’s explanation to complete the tables below, by
calculating the missing terms.
 SHOW all your calculations!

3.4.1 Position in sequence 1 2 3 4 10 54

Term 4 7 10 13 (4)

3.4.2 Position in sequence 1 2 3 4 8 16

Term 4 9 14 19 (4)

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QUESTION 4

Describing patterns using flow diagrams.

4.1 Three figures are given below of square tiles packed in patterns.

figure1 figure2 figure3

4.1.1 How many squares will there be in figure 4? (1)

4.1.2 If the pattern is continued, how many tiles will there be in the
17th figure? Show all your calculations. (2)

4.1.3 Complete the flow diagram below by writing the appropriate

operators so that it can be used to calculate the number of tiles in
any figure of the pattern. Then calculate the missing output value.

(3)

4.1.4 How many tiles will there be in the 50th figure if the pattern is
continued? (2)

4.1.5 Calculate the number of the figure that will have 50 tiles.
Show all your calculations
(2)

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QUESTION 5

Investigating and extending geometric patterns

A factory makes window frames.

 Type 1 has one windowpane,
 Type 2 has four windowpanes,
 Type 3 has nine windowpanes, and so on.

5.1 How many windowpanes will there be in type 5? (1)

5.2 Complete the table below. (5)

Frame type 1 2 3 4 12 20 n
Number of windowpanes 1 4 9

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TOTAL 55

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ANNEXURE A
NAME: _______________________________________ GRADE 8 _____
YOUR MATHS EDUCATOR’S NAME: _______________________________

Question 2.1

Write down the next TWO

numbers in each of the sequences
below
Sequence A: 5; 8; 11; 14;…..

Sequence B: 4; 5; 8; 13; ……

Sequence C: 1; 2; 4; 8; ….

Sequence D: 3; 5; 7; 9; ….

Sequence E: 4; 5; 7; 10; …..

Sequence F: 1; 5; 9; 13; ……

Question 3.4.1
Position in sequence 1 2 3 4 10 54
Term 4 7 10 13

CALCULATIONS:

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Question 3.4.2
Position in sequence 1 2 3 4 8 16
Term 4 9 14 19

CALCULATIONS:

Question 4.1.3

Question 5.2

Frame type 1 2 3 4 12 20 n
Number of windowpanes 1 4 9

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