Squares to Stairs

We began class with a table mates sharing of individuals' growth patterns from last Thursday's work. Then all shared in a whole class discussion. It was interesting to watch the color designs along with the verbal explanations to how students interpreted the growth patterns.

Students were shown how to express the stairs growth pattern in a table. . . . .:

. . . .and from there, we were able to write an algebraic expression.


Some students claimed to understand HOW this works while others were still uncomfortable with WHY and HOW this expression works -- and that is okay. Everyone "gets it" at a different pace.

Here is a link that can further your understanding (or maybe not):
Techniques for Adding the Numbers 1 to 100


HW: Answer the following in your MTN: Can you use 190 squares to make a stair-like structure? Justify you thinking with different representations -- visually, numerically, and algebraically.  WORK ON THIS FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES.