IB Mathematics SL Math Portfolio (Type I) Stellar Numbers Rianette Evadne A.

Lapiz s Videregende S ole 30th August 2010

D:\Dela Rosa\RIA\BoOGiE's Docs\MATH\Triangles.png D:\Dela Rosa\RIA\BoOGiE's Docs\MATH\Triangles A.png PROBLEM The following diagrams show a triangular pattern of evenly space dots. The numbe rs of dots in each diagram are examples of triangular numbers (1, 3, 6, ).

TASK 1 Complete the triangular numbers with three more terms.

TASK 2 Find a general statement that represents the nth triangular number in terms of n . n* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 y 1 3 6 10 15 21 28 36

*Let Calculator used: CASIO fx-9750GA PLUS 1. 2. 3. 4. Select Encode Select Select STAT. values for in List 1 and values for in List 2. GRPH (by pressing F1). Select GPH1 (by pressing F1 again). x^2 (by pressing F3).

D:\Dela Rosa\RIA\BoOGiE's Docs\MATH\6-Stellar.png The display shows:

5. Substitute with .

General Statement PROBLEM Consider stellar (star) shapes with vertices, leading to -stellar numbers. The f irst four representations for a star with six vertices are shown in the four stages below. The 6-stellar number at each stage is the total number of dots in the diagram.

S1 S2 S3 S4 TASK 3 Find the number of dots (i.e. the stellar number) in each stage up to . Organize the data so that you can recognize and describe any patterns. n 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sn 1 13

37 73 121 181

+12(1) +12(3) +12(6) +12(10) +12(15)

We now that and that

+12(xn) +12(1) x = 1 +12(3) x = 3 +12(6) x = 6 +12(10) x = 10 +12(15) x = 15

. 12 is the number of vertices of the first 6-stellar shape. . values are equal to y values in TASK 2. n 1 2 3 4 5 y 1 3 6 10 15

TASK 4 Find an expression for the 6-stellar number at stage .

Since and then . TASK 5 Find a general statement for the 6-stellar number at stage Sn in terms of n. n 1 2 3 4 Sn 1 13 37 73

Calculator used: CASIO fx-9750GA PLUS 1. Select STAT. 2. Encode values for in List 1 and values for in List 2. 3. Select GRPH (by pressing F1). Select GPH1 (by pressing F1 again).

D:\Dela Rosa\RIA\BoOGiE's Docs\MATH\5-Stellar.png 4. Select x^2 (by pressing F3). The display shows: 5. Substitute with and with .

General Statement TASK 6 Repeat steps above (tas s 3-5) with other values of . Values of used are (one more and one less than original) 5 and 7. 5-STELLAR SHAPE

S1 S2 S3 S4 SUBTASK 3 Find the number of dots (i.e. the stellar number) in each stage up to . Organize the data so that you can recognize and describe any patterns. n 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sn 1 11

31 61 101 151

+10(1) +10(3) +10(6) +10(10) +10(15)

We now that . SUBTASK 4 Find an expression for the 5-stellar number at stage .

D:\Dela Rosa\RIA\BoOGiE's Docs\MATH\7-Stellar.png SUBTASK 5 Find a general statement for the 5-stellar number at stage Sn in terms of n. n 1 2 3 4 Sn 1 11 31 61

Calculator used: CASIO fx-9750GA PLUS 1. 2. 3. 4. Select Encode Select Select STAT. values for in List 1 and values for in List 2. GRPH (by pressing F1). Select GPH1 (by pressing F1 again). x^2 (by pressing F3).

The display shows: 5. Substitute with and with .

General Statement 7-STELLAR SHAPE

D:\Dela Rosa\RIA\BoOGiE's Docs\MATH\7-Stellar.png S1 S2 S3

S4 SUBTASK 3 Find the number of dots (i.e. the stellar number) in each stage up to . Organize the data so that you can recognize and describe any patterns. n 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sn 1 15 43 85 141 211

+14(1) +14(3) +14(6) +14(10) +14(15)

We now that . SUBTASK 4 Find an expression for the 5-stellar number at stage . SUBTASK 5 Find a general statement for the 5-stellar number at stage Sn in terms of n. n 1 2 3 4 Sn 1 15 43 85

Calculator used: CASIO fx-9750GA PLUS 1. 2. 3. 4. Select Encode Select Select STAT. values for in List 1 and values for in List 2. GRPH (by pressing F1). Select GPH1 (by pressing F1 again). x^2 (by pressing F3).

The display shows: 5. Substitute with and with .

General Statement

TASK 7

Hence, produce the general statement, in terms of p and n, that generates the se quence of p stellar numbers for any value of p at stage Sn. 5-STELLAR

n 1 2 3 4 Sn 1 11 31 61

VALID!

6-STELLAR

n 1 2 3 4 Sn 1 13 37 73

VALID! 7-STELLAR

n 1 2 3 4 Sn 1 15 43 85

VALID!

GENERAL STATEMENT This statement can be applied to all p-stellar shapes given that . It cannot, ho wever, be applied to other polygons. The general statement is derived from the equations generated in the cases of a 5-, 6- and 7-stellar shape. The numerical coefficients in each equation is equal to the corresponding stellar number .