Mick Shipman

Math
September 5th, 2015
In this week's problem we explored the checkerboard and discussed how many
different square could fit in a standard 8x8 checkerboard. So we were given a small 8x8
checkerboard and we were told to find the exact amount of squares that lie in the board,
we were given the obvious 64 1x1 squares. You can use 2x2 square to 8x8 squares, also
they can overlap so the amount of square will be high. You must write down your
process and explain how you got your answers so we can compare our different ways to
get to the answer.
The first thing I did when I was handed this assignment was create a table for
each of the different size squares that could fit in the 8x8 square, starting at the 1x1s
and going up to the 8x8 square. Once I did that I started to outline different shaped
squares on the board. Starting with the 2x2 I saw how many I could fit going across the
x-axis then knowing its a square the number going on the y-axis would be the same. I
then multiplied the two numbers getting how many 2x2 square could fit inside the
whole 8x8. I wrote the number in my table, and repeated the same steps for each square
size. After I did three different sizes I noticed a pattern. For 2x2 you can fit 7 going each
way, then for 3x3 you can fit 6 going each way, 4x4 5 going each way. I then finished the
pattern and proofed it with actually counting how many and the pattern held out and
was correct. Finally using the table I gathered all the totals of the squares and got the
some of them.

Size Of Square

Number Of Square

1x1

64

2x2

49

3x3

36

4x4

25

5x5

16

6x6

7x7

8x8

1
After adding all the totals I got the answer of that a total of 204 squares can fit

inside of a standard 8x8 checkerboard, you can also do that math and add all those
numbers, but trust me its 204. I decided to look at other sizes like 10x10 and 16x16 and
I noticed you can do the same pattern as I did with the 8x8 and find out how many can
go horizontally for each size square, then add them all up and you get the answer. For a
10x10 checkerboard square there is 385 squares and in the 16x16 square there is 1676.
While doing this problem many different ideas came in my head to adjust it and
make it more challenging and interesting. The first idea that I had was to find how many
rectangles are in the 8x8 square. I think this will be a more challenging addition to the
problem because their are a lot of different rectangles that can fit inside the square.
Another idea that I have is in each square how many are black and how many are white.
I cant think of a way to do this besides counting inside each square which will take a lot
of time and get confusing. Finally to find or make a equation so we can find how many
square in a certain size square fast and easily.

Stay organized
I had to stay organized especially in this problem because their were many
different inputs. I used tables and kept my answers with the same square size they
should be with so if someone would look at it they wouldn't mix up the numbers.
Describe and Articulate

I had to draw out each square across or count them out on the 8x8 square to see
how many there are. Even when I had the pattern I still had to use and visualize the
square to be sure the answer is correct.
I give myself the grade of 8. I give myself this grade because I didnt have any sketches
but I meet every other mark. I answered the problem correctly with the right answer and
added an explanation for everything I did. There was an extension to the problem so
that bumped up myself. Also every question was answered thoughtfully.