Lesson 4

Pascal’s Triangle
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to

● correctly construct Pascal’s triangle;

● correctly apply the properties of Pascal’s triangle;

and

● accurately identify number patterns that can be

found within Pascal’s triangle.
 Essential Questions

● What is Pascal’s triangle?

● How will you construct the Pascal’s triangle?

● What kind of number patterns can be observed within

Pascal’s triangle?
 Warm Up!

Before we define the Pascal’s triangle, let’s try to determine

some of the patterns in it by observing each of its rows using
the following interactive Pascal’s triangle.

(Click on the link to access the interactive Pascal’s triangle.)

“Interactive Pascal’s Triangle.” The Math Forum. Retrieved 14

March 2019 from
http://mathforum.org/dr.cgi/pascal.cgi?rows=3.
 Guide Questions

● What are some patterns you noticed?

● How do you determine the numbers in each row?

● Are there sequences formed in the Pascal’s triangle?

 Learn about It!

1 Pascal’s Triangle
a triangular array of numbers which contains several widely known patterns in
mathematics

To construct Pascal’s triangle, we

arrange numbers in a triangular
pattern such that 1s are placed on
the outermost sides and any
number in between is the sum of
the two numbers above it.
 Learn about It!

2 Properties of Pascal’s Triangles

1. The numbers are symmetric

along the central vertical line
2. The second diagonal is the
sequence of natural numbers.
3. The third diagonal is the
sequence of triangular
numbers.
 Learn about It!

2 Properties of Pascal’s Triangles

4. The fourth diagonal is the

sequence of tetrahedral
numbers.
5. The sums of the numbers in
each row form the sequence of
powers of 2, which is a
geometric sequence.
 Learn about It!

2 Properties of Pascal’s Triangles

6. If you alternate the signs of the

numbers in any row, the sum of
the numbers will be 0.
 Learn about It!

3 Pascal’s Triangle and the Fibonacci Sequence

if you add the numbers in a slightly diagonal direction, you will obtain the terms
of the Fibonacci sequence

Example:
The Fibonacci sequences
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, … can be seen
in Pascal’s Triangle as shown in
the figure to the right.
 Learn about It!

4 Hockey-Stick Rule
the sum of the elements in a diagonal line starting with 1 is equal to the next
element down diagonally in the opposite direction

Example:
The figure to the right shows that by
selecting the diagonal containing 1, 3,
and 6, the sum, which is 10, can be
obtained by changing the direction of
the diagonal.
 Learn about It!

5 The Star of David

if two triangles are formed around an element of Pascal’s triangle, then the
products of the three numbers in the associated points of the two triangles are
equal

Example:
The figure to the right shows that the
marked numbers are 3, 7, and 15. The
products obtained from the marked
groups are shown on the next slide.
 Learn about It!

5 The Star of David

if two triangles are formed around an element of Pascal’s triangle, then the
products of the three numbers in the associated points of the two triangles are
equal

Example:
 Learn about It!

6 Common Sequence found in Pascal’s Triangle

the common sequences found in Pascal’s triangle are the sequences of squares,
cubes, triangular numbers, tetrahedral numbers, and prime numbers

Example:
1. In the sequences of squares, the explicit formula in
determining the nth term of the sequence is
 Learn about It!

6 Common Sequence found in Pascal’s Triangle

the common sequences found in Pascal’s triangle are the sequences of squares,
cubes, triangular numbers, tetrahedral numbers, and prime numbers

Example:
2. In the series of squares, the formula for determining the
nth partial sum of the series is
 Learn about It!

6 Common Sequence found in Pascal’s Triangle

the common sequences found in Pascal’s triangle are the sequences of squares,
cubes, triangular numbers, tetrahedral numbers, and prime numbers

Example:
3. In the sequence of cubes, the explicit formula for
determining the nth term of the sequence is
 Learn about It!

6 Common Sequence found in Pascal’s Triangle

the common sequences found in Pascal’s triangle are the sequences of squares,
cubes, triangular numbers, tetrahedral numbers, and prime numbers

Example:
4. In the series of cubes, the formula for determining the
nth partial sum of the series is
 Learn about It!

6 Common Sequence found in Pascal’s Triangle

the common sequences found in Pascal’s triangle are the sequences of squares,
cubes, triangular numbers, tetrahedral numbers, and prime numbers

Example:
5. In the sequence of triangular numbers, the explicit
formula for determining the nth term of the sequence is

The corresponding series is divergent.

 Learn about It!

6 Common Sequence found in Pascal’s Triangle

the common sequences found in Pascal’s triangle are the sequences of squares,
cubes, triangular numbers, tetrahedral numbers, and prime numbers

Example:
6. In the sequence of tetrahedral numbers, the explicit
formula for determining the nth term of the sequence is

The corresponding series is divergent.

 Learn about It!

6 Common Sequence found in Pascal’s Triangle

the common sequences found in Pascal’s triangle are the sequences of squares,
cubes, triangular numbers, tetrahedral numbers, and prime numbers

Example:
7. In the sequence of prime numbers, a positive integer is a
term of the sequence if its only factors are 1 and itself. The
corresponding series is divergent
 Try It!

Example 1: What is the 12th term in the sequence of

tetrahedral numbers?
 Try It!

Example 1: What is the 12th term in the sequence of

tetrahedral numbers?

Solution:
1. Write the explicit formula for the sequence of tetrahedral
numbers.
 Try It!

2. Substitute to the formula and solve for .

Thus, the 12th term in the sequence of tetrahedral numbers

is 364.
 Try It!

Example 2: What is the 20th partial sum of the series of

cubes?
 Try It!

Example 2: What is the 20th partial sum of the series of

cubes?

Solution:
1. Write the formula for the partial sum of the series of
cubes.
 Try It!

2. Substitute to the formula and solve for .

Thus, the 20th partial sum of the series of cubes is 44 100.

 Let’s Practice!

Individual Practice:

1. What is the 16th term in the sequence of tetrahedral

numbers?

2. What is the 30th partial sum of the series of cubes?

 Let’s Practice!

Group Practice: To be done groups of three.

The password of Lucy’s important document is the 3rd to 5th

terms in the sequence of triangular numbers. What is the
password?
Key Points

1 Pascal’s Triangle
a triangular array of numbers which contains several widely known patterns in
mathematics

2 Properties of Pascal’s Triangles

Pascal’s triangles contain six properties

3 Pascal’s Triangle and the Fibonacci Sequence

if you add the numbers in a slightly diagonal direction, you will obtain the terms
of the Fibonacci sequence
Key Points

4 Hockey-Stick Rule
the sum of the elements in a diagonal line starting with 1 is equal to the next
element down diagonally in the opposite direction

5 The Star of David

if two triangles are formed around an element of Pascal’s triangle, then the
products of the three numbers in the associated points of the two triangles are
equal

6 Common Sequence found in Pascal’s Triangle

the common sequences found in Pascal’s triangle are the sequences of squares,
cubes, triangular numbers, tetrahedral numbers, and prime numbers
 Synthesis

● What is Pascal’s triangle? What are its properties?

● How can you use patterns in real-life situations?

● How do you perform division of polynomials?