Victoria Jiang

25 Mar 2010
Algebra II, 5th Pd
Writing Assignment: Toothpick Formula

1.a) m(n+1) + n(m+1) => (expanded) 2mn +n +m

This is the formula representing the number of toothpicks (TP) needed for an m x n grid. On a grid where

m is the width and n is the length, n toothpicks appear M+1 times. According to figure 1, N is the length and M is

the width where the side with three TP has four rows, (M +1). The same applies for N, where there are four TP with

five columns, each with M TP. This gives, (n+1)m. So the TP from m(n+1) + TP from (m+1)n gives the total number

of TP on the grid.

b) Using the formula from answer 1a, m(n+1) + n(m+1), 93 is the width (m) and 107 is the length (n).

93 (107+1) + 107(93+1)= 10044+10056=20102 TP needed for the 93 by 107 grid.

c) If m=n, another variable can be used to replace the m and the n for a simpler and clearer formula. For this

instance, W replaces M and N. Instead of M(N+1) + N(M+1), it would be W(W+1) + W(W+1) = 2W^2+2W =

2W(W+1).

An example could be a five by five grid. Looking at figure 2, for column one, there are five toothpicks. And there

are (5+1) columns of 5 TP each. The circled TP represent the ones that are counted by the formula. Now in figure 3,

the TP placed horizontally are counted. There are (5+1) rows with 5 TP each row, supporting the formula for

W(W+1) + W(W+1).

2.a) To find the number of TP that make up a 3-d box, the box can be seen as being composed of horizontal and

vertical planes. From figure 4, there are three horizontal planes and five vertical planes. The first formula tells how

many TP are on a plane given M and N values and the 3-d figure in question two can be thought of as joint planes.

First, the TP on the horizontal planes can be calculated first with the formula (p+1)( m(n+1) + n(m+1). Now

the second part of the formula must count TP on the vertical planes that have not been counted with the
horizontal planes. There are (n+1) number of vertical planes. For each of the planes are (m+1) columns with P

toothpicks, so, the 2nd half of the formula is p(n+1)(m+1). Once added, the final formula is (p+1) (m+n+2mn) +

p(n+1)(m+1) for the number of toothpicks in a three dimensional TP box.

b. To find the number of toothpicks on the exterior of a toothpick box, the TP must be counted for each side

without recounting the any TP. Refer to figure 5, where the TP within the sides of the box is to be counted. For the

TP within the plane M by N, there are (N-1) columns and M toothpicks in each of those columns. Also, there are

three kinds of planes to be counted— M by N, M by P, and N by P. Each side appears in the box twice so there are

2 (M(N-1) + N(M-1)). Likewise, for side M by P, there are (P-1) columns and M TP per column, thus 2 (M(P-1) +

P(M-1)). Same for side N by P, the formula for the TP within would be 2(N(P-1) + P(N-1)). Now to count for the TP

on the “rim” of the box, simply multiply each variable by four, because that is how many times each of them

appear on the box as highlighted b figure 6. Overall the formula would be 4mn+4pm +4np, after combining and

expanding 2(M(N-1) + N(M-1)) + 2 (M(P-1) + P(M-1)) + 2(N(P-1) + P(N-1)) + 4N + 4M +4P.

c. Mr. Espinoza saw how smart his Trig BC students were after giving everyone in his 5 th period A’s for a job well
done on their toothpick assignments. Mr. E also happened to find an extra box of extra toothpicks that happened

to fit diagonal to the regular TP. Since Mr. E is a floss-guy, he decided to use the TP and he placed 4 TP in each of

the cubes of the TP box, connect each corner diagonally. Now find the formula for TP to the TP box. Ans. #cubes in

box * 4 TP per cube. # Cubes in box= N*M*P, so 4NMP is the formula.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3