Question

Find the rule which gives the number of matchsticks required to make the following matchstick patterns. Use a variable to write the rule.

Answer 1

Here, in each step one Z is being added. So the repetitive pattern is formed by the letter ‘Z’.

For making one Z, 3 matchsticks are used.

At level 2, one more Z is added. So, the number of matchsticks used for making two Z patterns is 6.

So, we can conclude that the number of matchsticks required for forming n Z’s pattern is equal to the product of the number of matchsticks required to make one Z’s pattern and the number of Z’s pattern.

⇒ 3 × n = 3n, where n is a variable, used for the unknown number of Z’s pattern, and its value can change.