MATCHSTICKS BUILD HEXAGONS

INTRODUCTION

Mathematics is a methodical application of matter. It makes our life orderly and prevents
chaos. It is important to develop problem solving activities to build new mathematical
knowledge, applying knowledge, adapting a variety of appropriate problem solving strategies to
daily life.

This investigation aims to determine the number of triangles and matchsticks in a hexagon
when another hexagon is added. It will also be interesting to discover formulas for calculating
the number of triangles inside the hexagon and the number of matchsticks used to form it.

Situation
Suppose we have matchsticks and form it into a hexagon. Then connect each opposite vertices
with a matchstick to form six triangles inside of it.

Figure 1

Figure 2
 Figure 3

Figure 4

Investigate

The hexagon is defined as a polygon with six sides. In this investigation, the sides of the
polygon and the triangles inside of it are formed by the matchsticks.

As seen in the illustrations, every term, the number of triangles and matchsticks used in
each illustration increases. In figure one, in a one hexagon, there were six triangles inside of it
and twelve matchsticks were used to complete the situation. On the second figure, in two
hexagons, there were 12 triangles and we added another 11 matchsticks to form two connected
hexagons. The same procedure will follow on the third and so on.

It can be seen that the number of triangles inside the hexagon is added by six as we put
another hexagon. On the other hand, 12 matchsticks were used to form a hexagon and connect
its opposite vertices to form six triangles inside of it. Then, 11 matchsticks were added as we
put another hexagon and connect its opposite vertices to form six triangles inside of it.

The number of triangles inside the hexagon and the number of matchsticks used is shown
in the table below.

Number of Number of Number of

Process
Hexagons triangles matchsticks

1 6 12

2 12 23

3 18 34
 4 24 45

⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮

The sequences for this situation were as follows:

A. Triangles – 6, 12, 18, 24, …

B. Matchsticks – 12, 23, 34, 45, …

Also, the sums of these terms are as follows:

A. Sum of the terms of the triangles:

S1=6
S2=6 +12=18

S3=6+12+18=36

S4 =6+12+18+24=60

B. Sum of the terms of the matchsticks:

S1=12

S2=12+23=35

S3=12+23+ 34=69

S4 =12+23+34+ 45=114

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This mathematical investigation aims to determine the rule in finding the terms and the
sum of the terms of the triangles inside the hexagon and the matchsticks used to form a
hexagon with six triangles inside of it.

Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:

1. What is the rule in finding the nth term of the triangles inside a hexagon and the
matchsticks used to form it?
2. What is the rule in finding the sum of the nth term of the triangles inside a hexagon and
the matchsticks used to form it?
 DATA GATHERING AND CONJECTURES

Conjecture 1

Looking for patterns on the nth term in the table below,

nth term nth term

Number of
Process (number of (number of
Hexagons
triangles) matchsticks)

1 6 6(1) 12 11(1)+1

2 12 6(2) 23 11(2)+1

3 18 6(3) 34 11(3)+1

4 24 6(4) 45 11(4)+1

⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮
n n 6n n 11 n+1

In each term, the six triangles inside the hexagon is multiplied by the number of hexagons
being added and 11 matchsticks were added to form another hexagon with six triangles inside
of it.

Based on the pattern, the nth term of the triangles inside the hexagon can be obtained
using
T n=6 n , where n is a natural number

and the nth term of the matchsticks can be obtained using

M n=11 n+1, where n is a natural number.
Conjecture 2

Looking for patterns on the sum of the nth term in the table below,

Sum of the no. of Sum of the no. of

Number of
Process triangles matchsticks
Hexagons
( Sn ) ( Sn )

1 6 12

2 18 35

3 36 69

4 60 114

⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮
n Sn=? Sn=?

To determine the rule for the sum of the nth term of the sequence, look on the patterns on
the sum on the nth term.

A. For the sum of number of triangles inside the hexagon

For n=1
S1=6 n

S1=6 (1)
S1=6
For n=2
S2=S 1+12

S2=6 (1 ) +6 (2)

S2=6 (1+2 )
S2=18

For n=3
S3=S 1+ S 2+18

S3=6 (1 )+6 (2 )+6 (3 )

S3=6 (1+2+3 )
S3=36

For n=4
S4 =S1 +S 2 +S 3 +24

S4 =6 ( 1 ) +6 ( 2 ) +6 ( 3 ) +6 (4)

S4 =6 ( 1+2+3+ 4 )

S4 =60

Looking on the pattern, for n, were n is a natural number

Sn=6(1+2+3+ 4+ …+ n)

n(n+1)
But,1+2+3+ 4+…+ n= , thus simplifying the expression
2
n ( n+1 )
Sn=6( )
2
Sn=3 n ( n+ 1 )
2
Sn=3 n + 3 n
Hence, the sum of the nth terms of the number of triangles inside the hexagon in the sequence
is given by the formula,
2
Sn=3 n + 3 n , where n is a natural number.

B. For the sum of the number of matchsticks

For n=1
S1=11 n+1

S1=11 ( 1 ) +1
S1=12

For n=2
S2=S 1+12

S2= [ 11 ( 1 ) +1 ]+ [ 11 ( 2 ) +1 ]

S2=11 ( 1+2 ) +2(1)

S2=35

For n=3
S3=S 1+ S 2+34

S3= [ 11 ( 1 ) +1 ]+ [ 11 ( 2 ) +1 ] +[11 ( 3 ) +1]

S3=11 ( 1+2+3 ) +3(1)

S3=69

For n=4
S4 =S1 +S 2 +S 3 +45

S4 =[ 11 (1 ) +1 ] + [ 11 ( 2 )+ 1 ]+[11 ( 3 ) +1]+[11 ( 4 ) +1]

S4 =11 (1+2+3+ 4 )+ 4 (1)

S4 =114

Looking on the pattern, for n, were n is a natural number

Sn=11 ( 1+2+3+ 4+…+ n ) +n(1)

n(n+1)
But,1+2+3+ 4+…+ n= , thus simplifying the expression
2
n(n+1)
Sn=11 +n
2
11 n(n+1)
S n= +n
2

11 n2 +11 n
S n= +n
2
 11 n2 +11 n+2 n
S n=
2
2
11 n +13 n
Sn=
2
Hence, the sum of the nth terms of the number of matchsticks in the sequence is given by the
formula,
2
11 n +13 n , where n is a natural number.
Sn =
2

VERIFYING CONJECTURES

Conjecture 1
To verify for the conjecture 1 with the formula for the nth term of the triangle inside the
hexagonT n=6 n , where n is a natural number and the formula for the nth term of the
matchsticks M n=11 n+1, where n is a natural number, assign any arbitrary natural number.

For n=7

A. The sequence of the triangles inside the hexagon is

6 , 12 ,18 , 24 , 30 , 36 , 42
Using the formula, we can obtain
T n=6 n

T 7=6 (7)
T 7=42

B. The sequence of the matchsticks is

12 ,23 , 34 , 45 ,56 , 67 , 78
Using the formula, we can obtain
M n=11 n+1

M 7=11(7)+1
 M 7=77+ 1

M 7=78

For n=10

A. The sequence of the triangles inside the hexagon is

6 , 12 ,18 , 24 , 30 , 36 , 42 , 48 ,54 , 60
Using the formula, we can obtain
T n=6 n

T 10=6(10)
T 10 =60

B. The sequence of the matchsticks is

12 ,23 , 34 , 45 ,56 , 67 , 78 , 89 ,100 , 111
Using the formula, we can obtain
M n=11 n+1

M 10=11(10)+1
M 10=110+1

M 10=111

Hence, the formula T n=6 n and M n=11 n+1 for conjecture 1 was verified to be true for any
arbitrary natural number.

Conjecture 2
To verify for the conjecture 2 with the formula for the sum of the nth term of the triangle
2
inside the hexagon St =3 n +3 n , where n is a natural number and the formula for the sum of the
 11 n2 +13 n
nth term of the matchsticks Sm = , where n is a natural number, assign any arbitrary
2
natural number.

For n=12

A. The sequence of the triangles inside the hexagon is

6 , 12 ,18 , 24 , 30 , 36 , 42 , 48 ,54 , 60 ,66 ,72
Using ordinary addition,
S12=6+ 12+18+ 24+30+36+ 42+ 48+54+60+ 66+72=468

If the formula will be use,

2
Sn=3 n + 3 n
2
S12=3(12) +3(12)
S12=432+ 36

S12=468

B. The sequence of the matchsticks is

12 ,23 , 34 , 45 ,56 , 67 , 78 , 89 ,100 , 111 ,122 , 133
Using ordinary addition,
S12=12+23+34 +45+56 +67+78+89+ 100+ 111+ 122+133=870

If the formula will be use,

2
11 n +13 n
Sn=
2
2
11(12) +13(12)
S12=
2
1740
S12=
2
S12=870

For n=20

A. The sequence of the triangles inside the hexagon is

6 , 12 ,18 , 24 , 30 , 36 , 42 , 48 ,54 , 60 ,66 ,72 ,78 ,84 , 90 ,96 ,102 , 108 ,114 ,120
Using ordinary addition,
S12=6+ 12+18+ 24+30+36+ 42+ 48+54+60+ 66+72+78+84+ 90+96+ 102+108+ 114+120=1260
If the formula will be use,
2
Sn=3 n + 3 n
2
S20=3 (20) +3( 20)
S20 =1200+60

S20=1260

B. The sequence of the matchsticks is

12 ,23 , 34 , 45 ,56 , 67 , 78 , 89 ,100 , 111 ,122 , 133 ,144 ,155 , 166 , 177 ,188 , 199 , 210 ,221
Using ordinary addition,
S20=12+23+34 +45+ 56+67+78+ 89+100+111+122+ 133+144+155+166+ 177+188+199+210+221=23

If the formula will be use,

2
11 n +13 n
Sn=
2
11(20)2+13 (20)
S12=
2
4660
S12=
2
S12=2330
2
2 11 n +13 n
Hence, the formula Sn=3 n + 3 n and Sn= for conjecture 2 was verified to be true for
2
any arbitrary natural number.

JUSTIFYING CONJECTURES

Conjecture 1

The formulaT n=6 n , where n is a natural number is a formula that can be used to
determine the nth terms in the sequence of triangles and the formula M n=11 n+1, where n is a
natural number is a formula that can be used to determine the nth terms in the sequence of
matchsticks which must be justified. It is indeed necessary to show that for all natural numbers,
the formula T n=6 n and M n=11 n+1 must be true.

In the sequence of triangles, its nth terms started from six because the first hexagon
contains six triangles. When a new hexagon was added to the sequence, the number of
triangles inside the hexagon was added by six. The same process is perceived as we add
another hexagon to the sequence. As observed in the situation, the nth term of the sequence of
triangles inside the hexagon can be obtained by multiplying the number of hexagons present to
the number six. That is why the formulaT n=6 n is true for any number of hexagons.
 In the sequence of matchsticks, its nth terms started from twelve because twelve
matchsticks were used to form a hexagon and connect its opposite vertices to form six triangles
inside of it. When a new hexagon was added to the sequence, the number of matchsticks used
was added by eleven pieces. The same process is perceived as we add another hexagon to the
sequence. It was also noticed that during the initial and succeeding hexagons, if we subtract
1 1n where n is a natural number, to the number of matchsticks used in every hexagons, there
is a common difference of 1. That is why the formula M n=11 n+1 is true for any number of
hexagons.

Conjecture 2

Prove that the sum of the nth terms in the sequence of triangles can be obtained using the
2
formula Sn=3 n + 3 n and the sum of the nth terms in the sequence of matchsticks can be
11 n2 +13 n
obtained using the formula Sn= .
2
In addition, we need to show that these formulas are true for all natural numbers. Thus,
this conjecture will be proven by mathematical induction.