Extending Number Patterns
You will need an interactive geoboard and dot paper for this activity.
Record your observations in a chart.
Problem 1
Use the geoboard to make a rectangle with a length of 2 units and a width of
1 unit.
Count and record the number of pegs on the perimeter of the rectangle.
Make a rectangle with length of 3 units and width of 2 units.
Count and record the number of pegs on the perimeter.
Continue to make rectangles with length 1 unit greater than the width.
Record the length, the width, and the number of pegs each time.
Draw each rectangle on dot paper.
Look for a pattern. As soon as you know the pattern, complete the rest of the
chart without using the geoboard.
Rectangle Length Width Number
of Pegs
1 2 1 6
2 3 2 10
3 4 3
4 5 4
8 9 8
How many pegs will be on the perimeter of the 5th rectangle?
How many pegs will be on the perimeter of the 8th rectangle?
Will the perimeter of any rectangle have 32 pegs? 33 pegs? 34 pegs?
How many pegs will there be on the perimeter of a 12 by 11 rectangle?
Problem 2
Here is a pattern of triangles shown on a geoboard. Each triangle has 2 equal
sides.
The pattern continues.
Use the geoboard to complete the chart. Predict the number of dots on the
perimeter of the 12th triangle.
Triangle Number Number of Pegs
1 3
2 6
3 9
10
11
12
There are two pattern rules that can be applied to this problem. Can you
describe the pattern rules?
Use the geoboard to create your own number pattern problem. Share your
problem with a classmate.
