Stellar Numbers Type 1

Name: Nguyen

Introduction The purpose of this task is to consider geometric shapes which lead to special numbers. Examples of special numbers are square numbers, 1, 4, 9, 16, which can be represented by squares of 1, 2, 3, and 4. The two geometric shapes that are examined in this portfolio are triangles and stars. The special numbers that are examined are triangular numbers and stellar numbers. General statements are produced from patterns these shapes generate. These statements are analyzed for their limitations and scope. The portfolio is divided into two sections: Triangular Numbers and Stellar Numbers. The triangular shapes were created using Microsoft Paint and the stellar shapes were created using a Java-coded script (http://luckytoilet.wordpress.com/) created using Netbeans (http://netbeans.org/). Calculations are made using the TI-84 Plus graphic display calculator. Triangular Numbers The following diagrams show a triangular pattern of evenly spaced dots. The numbers of dots in each diagram are examples of triangular numbers (1, 3, 6 ). o Fig. 1

1 15

10

Complete the triangular numbers sequence with three more terms. o Fig. 2

21

28

36

Find a general statement that represents the nth triangular number in terms of n.

In order to find the general statement, a table of values must be set up in the TI-84 Plus graphing display calculator. L1 represents n and L2 represents y. o Fig. 3 STAT > EDIT> Edit

The general statement will be generated using the calculator. o Fig. 4 STAT > CALC

The following table displays the various general statements generated by the calculator. To determine the general statement of the triangular pattern, n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 is substituted into the statements in order to determine its validity. The most valid general statement therefore represents the nth triangular number in terms of n. (Note: Let x = n). o Table 1 General Statements Testing its Validity n y 1 -2.5 2 2.5 3 7.5 4 12.5 5 17.5 6 22.5 7 27.5 8 32.5

y = 5n 7.5

y = 0.5n2 + 0.5n

n 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 n 1 2

y 1 3 6 10 15 21 28 36 y 1.730901 084 2.800475 227 4.530970 355 7.330788 776 11.86069 646 19.18976 592 31.04768 065 50.23294 591 y 0.940001 486 3.120342 473 6.295219 105 10.35800 187 15.24137 876 20.89703 031 27.28773 064 34.38347 028

y = (1.069825054) (1.617929097)n

3 4 5 6 7 8 n 1 2

y = (0.940001486)(n)1.730969438

3 4 5 6 7 8

From this information, the general statement for QuadReg is the most valid. The general statement of the triangular pattern is therefore:

y = 0.5n 2 + 0.5n =

n2 + n 2

The general statement is valid when n and when the shape is triangular. It does not apply for other polygons. For instance, the square numbers, 1, 4, 8, 16. Stellar Numbers Consider stellar (star) shapes with p vertices, leading to p-stellar numbers. The first four representations for a star with six vertices are shown in the four stages S1-S4 below. The 6-stellar number at each stage is the total number of dots in the diagram. o Fig. 5

S1 S4

S2

S3

Find the number of dots (i.e. the stellar number) in each stage up to S6. Organize the data so that you can reorganize and describe any patterns. The information given above is organized in the table below. Let n = x = term number and Sn = y = number of dots. o Table 2 n 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sn 1 13 37 73 121 181 1 = 1 + 12(0) 13 = 1 + 12(1) 37 = 1 + 12(3) 73 = 1 + 12(6) 121 = 1 + 12(10) 181 = 1 + 12(15)

Sn + 1 = Sn + 12(xn) 12 is the number of vertices of S2. Xn values are equal to y-values in the Triangular Pattern task. 5

o Table 3 n 1 2 3 4 5 y 1 3 6 10 15

Find an expression for the 6-stellar number at stage S7. Since Sn+1 = Sn + 12(xn) and x=y Then S7 = S6+1 = S6 + 12(y6) Find a general statement for the 6-stellar number at stage Sn in terms of n. In order to find the general statement, a table of values must be set up in the TI-84 Plus graphing display calculator. L1 represents n and L2 represents Sn. o Fig. 6 STAT > EDIT> Edit

The general statement will be generated using the calculator. o Fig. 7 STAT > CALC

The following table displays the various general statements generated by the calculator. To determine the general statement of the 6-stellar pattern, n = 1, 2, 3, 4 is substituted into them to determine its validity. The most valid general statement therefore represents the 6-stellar number at stage Sn in terms of n. (Note: Let x = n and y = Sn). 6

o Table 4 General Statements Testing its Validity n Sn 1 -5 2 19 3 43 4 67 n 1 2 3 4 Sn = 6n2 - 6n + 1 From this information, the general statement for QuadReg is the most accurate. The general statement for the 6-stellar number at stage Sn in terms of n is therefore:
y = 6n 2 6n +1

Sn = 24n-29

Sn 1 13 37 73

The general statement is valid when n 6. It does not apply for other polygons.

and when the shape is stellar and when p =

Now repeat the steps above the other values of p. The values that are used for p are 5, 7, and 8. When p = 5 o Fig. 8

S1

S2

S3

S4

Find the number of dots (i.e. the stellar number) in each stage up to S6. Organize the data so that you can reorganize and describe any patterns. The information given above is organized in the table below. o Table 5 n 1 Sn 1 1 = 1 + 10(0) 7

2 3 4 5 6

11 31 61 101 151

11 = 1 + 10(1) 31 = 1 + 10(3) 61 = 1 + 10(6) 101 = 1 + 10(10) 151 = 1 + 10(15)

Sn + 1 = Sn + 10(xn) 10 is the number of vertices of S2. Xn values are equal to y values in the Triangular Pattern task. o Table 6 n 1 2 3 4 5 y 1 3 6 10 15

Find an expression for the 5-stellar number at stage S7. Since Sn+1 = Sn + 10(xn) and x=y Then S7 = S6+1 = S6 + 10(y6) Find a general statement for the 6-stellar number at stage Sn in terms of n. In order to find the general statement, a table of values must be set up in the TI-84 Plus graphing display calculator. L1 represents n and L2 represents Sn. o Fig. 9 STAT > EDIT> Edit

The general statement will be generated using the calculator. o Fig. 10 STAT > CALC 8

The following table displays the general statement produced by the calculator using QuadReg. To determine the general statement of the 5-stellar pattern, n = 1, 2, 3, 4 is substituted into it to determine its validity. (Note: Let x = n and y = Sn). o Table 7 General Statements Testing its Validity n Sn 1 1 2 11 3 31 4 61

Sn = 5n2 - 5n + 1 From this information, the general statement for QuadReg is valid. The general statement of the triangular pattern is therefore:
y = 5n 2 5n +1

The general statement is valid when n 5. It does not apply for other polygons. When p = 7 o Fig. 11

and when the shape is stellar and when p =

S1

S2

S3

S4

Find the number of dots (i.e. the stellar number) in each stage up to S6. Organize the data so that you can reorganize and describe any patterns. The information given above is organized in the table below. 9

o Table 8 n 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sn 1 15 43 85 141 211 1 = 1 + 14(0) 15 = 1 + 14(1) 43 = 1 + 14(3) 85 = 1 + 14(6) 141 = 1 + 14(10) 211 = 1 + 14(15)

Sn + 1 = Sn + 14(xn) 14 is the number of vertices of S2. Xn values are equal to y values in the Triangular Pattern task. o Table 9 n 1 2 3 4 5 y 1 3 6 10 15

Find an expression for the 7-stellar number at stage S7. Since Sn+1 = Sn + 14(xn) and x=y Then S7 = S6+1 = S6 + 14(y6) Find a general statement for the 7-stellar number at stage Sn in terms of n. In order to find the general statement, a table of values must be set up in the TI-84 Plus graphing display calculator. L1 represents n and L2 represents Sn. o Fig. 12 STAT > EDIT> Edit

The general statement will be generated using the calculator. 10

o Fig. 13

STAT > CALC

The following table displays the general statement produced by the calculator using QuadReg. To determine the general statement of the 7-stellar pattern, n = 1, 2, 3, 4 is substituted into it to check its validity. (Note: Let x = n and y = Sn). o Table 10 General Statements Testing its Validity n Sn 1 1 2 15 3 43 4 85

Sn = 7n2 - 7n + 1 From this information, the general statement for QuadReg is valid. The general statement of the triangular pattern is therefore:
y = 7 n 2 7 n +1

The general statement is valid when n 7. It does not apply for other polygons. When p = 8 o Fig. 14

and when the shape is stellar and when p =

S1

S2

S3

S4

Find the number of dots (i.e. the stellar number) in each stage up to S6. Organize the data so that you can reorganize and describe any patterns. 11

The information given above is organized in the table below. o Table 11 n 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sn 1 17 49 97 161 241 1 = 1 + 16(0) 17 = 1 + 16(1) 49 = 1 + 16(3) 97 = 1 + 16(6) 161 = 1 + 16(10) 241 = 1 + 16(15)

Sn+1 = Sn + 16(xn) 16 is the number of vertices of S2. Xn values are equal to y values in the Triangular Pattern task. o Table 12 n 1 2 3 4 5 y 1 3 6 10 15

Find an expression for the 8-stellar number at stage S7. Since Sn+1 = Sn + 16(xn) and x=y Then S7 = S6+1 = S6 + 16(y6) Find a general statement for the 8-stellar number at stage Sn in terms of n. In order to find the general statement, a table of values must be set up in the TI-84 Plus graphing display calculator. L1 represents n and L2 represents Sn. o Fig. 15 STAT > EDIT> Edit

12

The general statement will be generated using the calculator. o Fig. 16 STAT > CALC

The following table displays the general statement produced by the calculator using QuadReg. To determine the general statement of the 8-stellar pattern, n = 1, 2, 3, 4 is substituted into it to check its validity. (Note: Let x = n and y = Sn). o Table 13 General Statements Testing its Validity n Sn 1 1 2 17 3 49 4 97

Sn = 8n2 - 8n + 1 From this information, the general statement for QuadReg is valid. The general statement of the triangular pattern is therefore:
y = 8n 2 8n +1

The general statement is valid when n 8. It does not apply for other polygons.

and when the shape is stellar and when p =

Hence, produce the general statement, in terms of p and n, that generates the sequence of p-stellar number for any value of p at stage Sn.

13

The following table organizes the information obtained regarding the 5, 6, 7, and 8 stellar number patterns. As shown in the previous areas of this investigation, the each of the general statements have proven to be valid. o Table 14 Stellar Number 5 6 7 8 General Statement
y = 5n 2 5n +1

y = 6n 2 6n +1
y = 7 n 2 7 n +1

y = 8n 2 8n +1

Based on these general statements, the general statement (in terms of p and n) that generates the sequence of p-stellar number for any value of p at stage Sn is:
S n = pn 2 pn +1

Where p represents the stellar number and n represents the term number. The general statement is valid when p apply for other polygons. and when the shape is stellar. It does not
n2 + n 2

y=

14