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    If 1000 toothpicks are used to construct stairsteps, what is the largest number of squares that can be formed? 496 squares can be formed.

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    If 1000 toothpicks are used to construct stairsteps, what is the largest number of squares that can be formed? 496 squares can be formed.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    25 views1 page

    116 Problemsolving

    Uploaded by

    api-315091906
    If 1000 toothpicks are used to construct stairsteps, what is the largest number of squares that can be formed? 496 squares can be formed.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
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    MalikiBahar

    Math116
    ProblemSolvingActivityToothpicks&Stairsteps

    If1000toothpicksareusedtoconstructstairsteps,whatisthelargestnumberofsquaresthat
    canbeformed?

    496squarescanbeformed.First,Ifoundhowmanytoothpickswillbeusedoutofthethousand
    toformthestairsteps.TodothisIfoundapatterninthefirst,second,third,andfourth
    stairsteps.

    4toothpickswereusedtoformstairstepnumber1thenapatterndeveloped,because
    6moretoothpickswereusedtoformstairstep2thanstairstep1,however
    8moretoothpickswereusedtoformstairstep3thanstairstep2,andfinally
    10moretoothpickswereusedtoformstairstep4thanstairstep3

    Thepatternofeachfigureincreasedby2morethanthenext,forexample:

    Stairstep1wasformedwith4toothpicks,whereasstairstep2wasformedwith10toothpicks
    (figure12hadadifferenceof6toothpicksused)

    Stairstep2wasformedwith10toothpickswhereasstairstep3wasformedwith18toothpicks
    (figure23hasadifferenceof8toothpicksused)

    990toothpickswillbeused

    Next,welistthenumberofsquaresineachfigureandmultiplethenumberbyitsfollowing
    number(forexamplesquare3is2x3=6andhalfof6is3,so3isthenextnumberofsquares)

    Whenwegetto31x32=992wedivideitby2anditis496,sothereare496squaresformedif
    1000toothpicksareusedtoformstairsteps.

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