Investigating Patterns

For the Love of the Game

Materials needed:
Graph paper, map pencils
and/or highlighter, IAB

Homework
For each of the patterns:
1) Draw the next 3 shapes in the sequence
2) Create a table with the shape number in the first column and the
number of addition shapes added to get to the next shape, do this for
the next 3 shapes
3) Describe in words how the pattern changes
4) Create an expression for the data
5) Graph your results from the table

Shape 1

Shape 2

Shape 3

Shape 1

Shape 2

Shape 3

The Springboard Informer

is pleased to bring you an
exclusive sneak peek at
Level 9 Studious
upcoming multiplayer
game, Modus Operandi.

The game is set for a December

release. Level 9s lead designer,
Floyd Castle, sat down with us for a
one-on-one interview.

Before we get into the

game, tell us a little
about the company
itself. Is there any
significance to the
name?

There is, actually. I played a ton of

video games while I was growing up.
Id spend hours and hours trying to
figure out how to beat certain levels.
That all changed when I took Algebra.

At first, Algebra didnt interest

me that much because it just
seemed like a bunch of steps
strung together that I was
suppose to memorize.

Algebra?

I preferred video games

because I felt challenged
to seek out a pattern and
felt confident in knowing
that there was often
more than one way to
complete a level.

Then I made
the
connection
between my
approach to
a particular
level in a
video game
and the
process of
completing
an Algebra
problem.
The rest is
history,
Level 9
Studios was
born.

Hehehehe. Well, not

really, but I did design the
logo in study hall one day.

You started a video

game design
company in your
Algebra class?

The logo represents a

symbol of that
connection I made,
and it has become the
basis for the design
principles of our
games.

First I
started by
looking for a
pattern

Here I will
walk you
through the
steps

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
L E V E L

Begin by
copying this
design on graph
paper.
Color the
squares like I
did, it will make
it easier.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
L E V E L
Investigate the
patterns in the logo
by completing the
table.

TTH 3

Level

# of
squares
added

Perimeter

Total
Area

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
L E V E L
Investigate the
patterns in the logo
by completing the
table.
TTH1

Level

# of
squares
added

Perimeter

Total
Area

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
L E V E L
Investigate the
patterns in the logo
by completing the
table.
MW 1st

Level

# of
squares
added

Perimeter

Total
Area

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Level

# of
squares
added

Perimeter

Total
Area

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

What patterns do
you notice in the
columns and rows
of the table?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
TTH1

7.

Level

# of
squares
added

Perimeter

Total
Area

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

What patterns do
you notice in the
columns and rows
of the table?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
TTH3

7.

Level

# of
squares
added

Perimeter

Total
Area

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

What patterns do
you notice in the
columns and rows
of the table?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
MW1

7.

Now use your pattern to

predict the values for a
tenth level in the design.
Compare your
answer with your
partner.

Well, as in all video games, the way to

survive is by collecting health points,
or gold coins, or lives at each level.

Ok, I see that the

logo has plenty of
different patterns in
it, but how does that
translate to game
design?

In Modus Operandi, a
character can
regenerate health
points at each level.

The number of health

points regenerated at
each level follows the
same pattern as the
numbers in the
Perimeter column.
Take a look at the
Perimeter Column.

One problem we
had was that
characters in our
game can reach up
to level 50. Rather
than writing a
program that does
repeated
calculations, we
decided to come up
with an expression
for finding the
number of health
points regenerated
at any level.

How does the perimeter of

each level compare to the
number of the level itself?
Compare your
answer with your
partner.

Use the variable L to

represent the level number
of a character in the game.

Write an expression
that could be used to
determine the number
of health points
(perimeter)
regenerated at any
level in the game.

Compare your
answer with your
partner.

Now lets see how the

expression works.

Use the expression you

wrote to determine the
number of health points
regenerated for a
character at level 50.

Compare your
answer with your
partner.

Lets look at another

column

The 2nd column of the

table, # of Squares
Added, represents the
number of gold coins
acquired at each level.

Explain how the

number of squares
added at each level
is related to the level
number.
Share with your
partner

Use the variable L to

represent the level
number of a character
in the game.

Write an expression for

finding the total number
of squares added at
each level.

Test your expression

by using Levels 3, 6,
and 8 and solving.
Do your answers
match what is in
those columns?

Now lets use your

expression to predict.

Determine the number

of gold coins
acquired at the
following levels:
a) Level 15
b) Level 36
c) Level 50

Compare your
answers with your
partner.

Finally, lets look at the

4th column, it shows the
total area for each level.

Explain how the values

in the column relate
to the level number.

Use the variable L

to write an
expression for
finding the total area
of the logo based on
the level number.

But thats not all, You can

also use graphs!

Tables, expressions and

graphs are among the
multiple representations for
dealing with a problem.

So you can use tables and

expressions to show the
same information.

Let me show
you.

Lets graph the data from the

table on the appropriate grid.

We will make 3 graphs. In

all 3 the level number will
be the independent
variable because the more
games we win the higher
the level we obtain.

On the 1st
graph we will
show the
relationship
between the
Level Number
and the # of
Squares Added.

On the 2nd
graph we will
show the
relationship
between the
Level Number
and the
Perimeter.

On the 3rd
graph we will
show the
relationship
between the
Level Number
and the Total
Area.

Now we must decide on what

number scale we will use.

Next, make sure we label

our x and y axis according
to our problem and then
plot the points.

Look at your graphs. Do any

of them represent a Linear
Model?

Explain to your partner why

or why not?

Oooooohhhh. Good
question.

You spoke earlier about

multiple representations. Are
there other ways the logo
represents this?

Lets take another look at

the # of Squares Added
column.
These numbers
represent the number
of gold coins acquired
at each level. We
already have one
expression for finding
the number of coins at
each level. Lets look at
the logo in a different
way.

The diagrams below show the

First four levels of the logo as
individual figures.

Beginning with the second

level, what kind of shape
appears to be missing
from each figure?

How does that

answer compare
to the vales in
the Total Area
column?

How can you use the values in

the Total Area column to
generate the number of
squares added in a given level?

Get the expression you

wrote for the Total Area
column and the expression
you just wrote and
generate another
expression for the number
of squares added in a
given level.
Then use your new
expression to find the
number of squares added in
Level 6 and Level 15.

Are the values the same or

different?
Why do you think this
happened?

Well, game design is an

interesting field of study.

Some of your previous

titles have received mixed
reviews from the gaming
community. How are you
addressing this in your
new game?

As gamers we want to be challenged,

but we also need to feel as though
were being rewarded appropriately for
our efforts.

From a development
standpoint, thats easier
said than done.

Our first game,

Realm of Empires,
had a great story. But
it was too easy and
players felt they didnt
get moneys worth.

Our last game, Rube Goldbergs Lab,

ended up being too complex and
alienated many casual gamers, who
gave up and quit playing the game.

With Modus Operandi,

we think weve hit the
sweet spot.

Of course! Part of achieving

the appropriate balance
involves two variablestime
and rewards.
Im guessing
theres
something in the
logo that
explains that
too?

For instance, we know we want it to

take a certain amount of time (T) to
reach the maximum level or complete
the game.
We also know that
early levels need to be
completed or gained
quickly, with the later
levels becoming more
complex and taking
longer to complete.

To balance the additional time

and complexity of each level,
the rewards should also
increase accordingly.

Let me show you.

Look at the following

graphs.

Do either one represent a

linear model?
Which set of data would
be best represented by
each? Why?

Graph A

Graph B

Compare and Contrast:

the process of designing and/or playing a
video game to completing a math problem.
Process of designing
and/or playing a video
game

Completing a math
problem

Topic: Investigating Patterns

Tool Box:

Numeric and graphic representations of data

Linear vs. non-linear data
Pattern recognition
Predictions based on patterns

How do I look
for patterns?

When looking for a pattern compare the numbers in the 1st

column to all the other columns. Look for numbers changing
using addition, subtraction, multiplication or division.

What is a
variable?

A variable is a letter or symbol used to

represent one or more numbers.

How is an
expression
used?

An expression can be used to solve for any given value.

Just substitute the given value for the variable.

Topic: Investigating Patterns

How do I
graph data?

What does a
Linear Model
look like?
What are
equivalent
expressions?
What are
multiple
representations?

After deciding what data will be graphed, decide what number

scale will be most appropriate. What is the lowest and highest
numbers that occur in your data, can I count by 1s, 2s etc. Then
make sure to label the x and y axis correctly using the titles of the
columns. Then plot your points.
A Linear Model is a set of data that has a constant rate of
change (slope) and a graph that looks like a line.

Equivalent expressions give the same result for any

given input, but the expressions look different.
Multiple Representations are used to display data and to
find answers and/or predictions. The 4 multiple
representations are data table, expressions, graphs, and
verbal problems.

Homework
If you have not finished your Compare and Contrast Tablemake
sure you do.
Springboard Check For Understanding 1-6 on page 12
Make sure you refer back to your notes

Activity 1.1
1
2
3
4

3
6
9

12 3
27 3

12 48 3

1) Describe any patterns you notice in the table of

values
2) Assume the pattern in each column continues. If
you were given a random number, how would you
determine if the number would appear in one of
the columns.
3) Based on your investigation of the table of values,
how could you label the columns? Explain your
reasoning.
4) Write an expression that represents this
relationship between numbers in the same rows in
columns 1 and 2. Explain how you could use this
expression to determine the value in row 45 of
column two.
5) Create a graphical representation of the
relationship between two columns in the table.