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THE SHORTHAND OF COUNTING RECTANGLES

CABUGCABUG NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL President Roxas, Capiz S.Y. 2012-2013 Researcher: JESTONI SANTILLAN

THE SHORTHAND OF COUNTING RECTANGLES


I. INTRODUCTION

As we go on with our journey for the quest of knowledge, there are some instances in which we can encounter problems like counting rectangles of all possible sizes that could be fitted in the diagram. Sometimes it takes time for us to count all of them; some overlooked; some double-counted. You cannot instantly give the precise and accurate number of all rectangles in it. In this investigation, the investigators want to find out if there is/are formula in finding for the correct number of rectangles that could be placed in a diagram. This study also aims to explore with the sequence of total number of rectangles if there is a pattern formed from them.

Consider this one: How many rectangles are there?

II. STATEMENTS OF THE PROBLEMS CONSIDERED 1. Does the total number of rectangles in a group of diagrams with the same length forms a pattern? What pattern is it? 2. How could you count all the rectangles in different possible sizes that could be fitted in a certain diagram in a shorter way? 3. Is there any formula to find for the total number of rectangles in a diagram? 1

III. CONJECTURES Conjecture #1 There is a pattern in the total number of rectangles that could be placed in the diagram. This pattern is also known as the Sequence of Triangular Numbers. A pattern of polygonal or figurate numbers in which each triangular number is obtained by adding one more than the preceding difference. In symbols, Tn = n (n+1)/2, where Tn= triangular number and n= number. However, for rectangular grids with length more than one, the formula is multiplied to the triangular number of the length.

Testing/Verifying Conjecture #1

For diagrams with length equal to one Table 1.a Size (LxW) 1x1 1x2 1x3 1x4 1x5 Total No. Of Rectangles 1 3 6 10 15

Refer to the table above. In the sequence of triangular numbers, the next number is obtained by adding one more than the preceding difference. The first five terms in the sequence were 1, 3, 6, 10 and 15. Therefore, the total number of rectangles in a diagram with length equal to one follows the pattern of triangular numbers. 2

Table1

Size of The Diagram 2x1 2x2 2x3 2x4 2x5 3x1 3x2 3x3 3x4 3x5 4x1 4x2 4x3 4x4 4x5

No. Of Rectangles 3 9 18 30 45 6 18 36 60 90 10 30 60 100 150

Refer from the table above. In diagrams with length 2 units, the number of rectangles were 3, 9, 18, 30, and 45. But when each of this values were divided by a constant value 3, the result will be the first five terms of the triangular sequence. So, it follows the pattern of triangular numbers. 3/3=1 ; 9/3=3 ; 18/3=6 ; 30/3=10; 45/3=15

IfL = 3 units, the numbers were 6, 18, 36, 60 and 90. But if when each were divided by a constant number 6, the results were the numbers of the first five termsin the sequence of triangular numbers.Hence, it follows the pattern of triangular numbers. 6/6=1 ; 18/6=3 ; 36/6=6 ; 60/6=10; 90/6=15

If L = 4 units, the numbers were 10, 30, 60, 100 and 150. But if when each were divided by a constant number 10, the results were the numbers of the first five termsin the sequence of triangular numbers.Hence, it follows the pattern of triangular numbers. 10/10=1 ; 30/10=3 ; 60/10=6 ; 100/10=10; 150/10=15 Conjecture #2 There is an assigned number for every groups of rectangular grids grouped according tothe same value of length. This number is called the diagramsTriangular Number. This number is also the triangular number of the diagrams length. When this constant number is used to divide the total number of rectangles of a certain diagram, the result will be a triangular number. Testing/Verifying Conjecture #2 Table 2 SIZE (LxW) 1x1 1x2 1x3 1x4 1x5 2x1 2x2 2x3 2x4 2x5 3x1 3x2 3x3 3x4 3x5 4x1 4x2 4x3 4x4 4x5 No. Of Rectangles(TR) 1 3 6 10 15 3 9 18 30 45 6 18 36 60 90 10 30 60 100 150 4 Triangular No.(DT) (assigned) 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 3 6 6 6 6 6 10 10 10 10 10 TR/DT=Tn 1 3 6 10 15 1 3 6 10 15 1 3 6 10 15 1 3 6 10 15

From the table 1.b shows how each diagram is assigned with a triangular number. In the last column showsthe quotient of the total number of rectangles and Their triangular number. Whereas the quotient is a triangular number.

Conjecture #3 To find for the total number of rectangles that could be possibly placed in the diagram, the formula is stated as: TR = DT w (w+1)/2 Where:
TR=total number of rectangles DT=triangular number of the grid (also the triangular number of the length ) w =width of the diagram

Testing/Verifying Conjecture #3 How many rectangles are there in the following diagrams?

a. 1 x 2 diagram TR= ? TR= DT[ w(w+1)/2] = 1 [2(2+1)/2] = 1 [2(3)/2] = 1 [ 6/2 ] =3

b. 2 x 2 diagram TR= ? TR= DT[ w(w+1)/2] = 3 [2(2+1)/2] = 3 [2(3)/2] = 3 [ 6/2 ] =9

c.3 x 3 diagram TR= ? TR= DT[w(w+1)/2] = 6[3(3+1)/2] = 6 [3(4)/2] = 6 [ 12/2 ] = 36

d.. 3 x 4 diagram TR= ? TR= DT[ w(w+1)/2] = 6 [4(4+1)/2] = 6 [4(5)/2] = 6 [ 20/2 ] = 60

e.4 x 4diagram TR= ? TR=DT[w(w+1)/2] = 10 [4(4+1)/2] = 10 [4(5)/2] = 10 [ 20/2 ] = 100

f. 4 x 5 diagram TR= ? TR=DT[w(w+1)/2] = 15 [4(4+1)/2] = 15 [4(5)/2] = 15 [ 20/2 ] = 150

Table 3. Total Number of Rectangles in an mxn diagram. SIZE (LXW) 1x1 1x2 1x3 1x4 1x5 2x1 2x2 2x3 2x4 2x5 3x1 3x2 3x3 3x4 3x5 4x1 4x2 4x3 4x4 4x5
1 x 1 1 x 2 1 x 3 1 X 4 1 x 5 2 x 1 2 x 2 2 x 3 2 x 4 2 x 5 3 x 1 3 X 2 3 x 3 3 x 4 3 x 5 4 x 1 4 x 2 4 x 3 4 x 4 4 x 5

Total 1

1 2 3 4 5 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 2 4 6 2 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 1 1 2 3 4 2 5 2 3 6 3 6 3 6 4 6 8 2 4 6 2 4 6 2 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 1 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 1 3 2 1 1 2 4 6 2 4 2 2 3 4 1 2 1 3 2 1

3 6 10 15 3 9 18 30 45 6 18 36 60 90 10 30 60 100

10 8 3 6 9

12 9

15 12 9 4 8 4 4

3 10 8 3 6 9 3 6

4 2 5 2 4

12 8

3 6 3

6 8

16 12 8

12 9

20 16 12 8

4 15 12 9

6 3 10 8

6 4 2 5

4 3 2 1 150

This table shows the list of Different size diagrams and how many of the smaller diagrams could be fitted in it. 7

IV. JUSTIFICATION Conjecture #1 Sizes 1x6 1x7 1x8 1x10 1x11 1x12 1x13 1x14 1x15 Total no. of Rectangles 21 28 36 45 55 66 78 91 105

The numbers 21, 28, 36, 45 55, 66,78, 91 and 105 were the numbers of the total number of rectangles. And if every term is to be obtained you just need to add 1 more than the preceding difference. Thus, this sequence must follow the pattern of triangular numbers and conjecture# 1 is correct. Consider this sequence: Find for n or the next term. To find for n or the next term, you must first get the preceding difference of the first and second term.28-21= 7 , hence 7 is the difference. Now to get the next term, add one to the preceding difference then add the sum to the preceding term. 7+1=8. Then, 28+8= 36. n=36 is the next triangular number. 21, 28, n.

Conjecture #2 Table 4 Size (LxW) 5x6 5x7 5x8 5x9 5x10 10x6 10x7 10x8 10x9 10x10 15x6 15x7 15x8 15x9 15x10 20x6 20x7 20x8 20x9 20x10 No. Of Rectangles(TR) 315 420 540 675 825 1155 1540 1980 2475 3025 2520 3360 4320 5400 6600 4410 5880 7560 9450 11550 Triangular No.(DT) (assigned) 15 15 15 15 15 55 55 55 55 55 120 120 120 120 120 210 210 210 210 210 TR/DT=Tn 21 28 36 45 55 21 28 36 45 55 21 28 36 45 55 21 28 36 45 55

21, 28, 36, 45 and 55 in the last column are Triangular numbers. Therefore, conjecture # 2 is justified. 9

Conjecture #3

10 V.SUMMARY OF CONJECTURES

Conjecture #1 There is a pattern in the total number of rectangles that could be placed in the diagram. This pattern is also known as the Sequence of Triangular Numbers. A pattern of polygonal or figurate numbers in which each triangular number is obtained by adding one more than the preceding difference. In symbols, Tn = n (n+1)/2, where Tn= triangular number and n= number. However, for rectangular grids with length more than one, the formula is multiplied to the triangular number of the length.

Conjecture #2 There is an assigned number for every groups of rectangular grids grouped according tothe same value of length. This number is called the diagramsTriangular Number. This number is also the triangular number of the diagrams length. When this constant number is used to divide the total number of rectangles of a certain diagram, the result will be a triangular number.

Conjecture #3

To find for the total number of rectangles that could be possibly placed in the diagram, the formula is stated as: TR = DT w (w+1)/2

TR=total number of rectangles DT=triangular number of the grid (also the triangular number of the length ) w =width of the diagram

11 VI. RECOMMENDATION

1. Investigate further with figures like L-shape figure that could be fitted in an mxn rectangular diagram. Find out if there is also formula for it.

VII. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Dilao, Soledad Jose, Bernabe, Julieta. Geometry, textbook for Third year, SD Publications, Inc. 2009.

Rod Pierce DipCE BEng, Triangular Numbers, 2013.

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