Question

There are 2 shapes in a basket. Together they have 8 sides. What can be the possible shapes in the basket? (There can be more than 1 correct answer)

• A. 2 Squares
• B. 1 Square, 1 Rectangle
• C. 1 Triangle, 1 Rectangle
• D. 2 Triangles

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B)

1 Square, 1 Rectangle

$\text{Say:}$Let’s read the question.

$\text{Ask:}$
$\bullet$ How many shapes are there in the basket?
Ans: 2 shapes

$\bullet$ How many sides do the shapes in the basket have in all?
Ans: 8 sides

$\bullet$ Can option A be the possible shapes in the basket? Why?
Ans: Yes, because a square has 4 sides and a rectangle also has 4 sides. So together, they can have 4 + 4 = 8 sides in all.

$\bullet$ Can option B be the possible shapes in the basket? Why?
Ans: Yes, because a rectangle has 4 sides. So 2 rectangles will have 4 + 4 = 8 sides in all.

$\bullet$ Can option C be the possible shapes in the basket? Why?
Ans: Yes, because like a rectangle, a square also has 4 sides. So 2 squares will have 4 + 4 = 8 sides in all.

$\bullet$ Do you think the shapes have 8 vertices together as well or less than 8 vertices?
Ans: The shapes must have 8 vertices as well because two sides meet to make a vertex, so if there are 8 sides, there will be 8 vertices.

Hence, options A and C are the correct answers.

$\text{WB:}$If required, use the whiteboard to draw shapes, write the number of sides and find the total number of sides as shown.


$\text{Probing Questions:}$
Q. If together the 2 shapes in the basket had 1 fewer side, will the possible shapes still remain the same or change?
A: The possible shapes will change because the total number of sides will change to 8 – 1 = 7. So, out of 2 shapes, 1 must have 3 sides and the other 4 sides.

Q. What can be the possible combination of shapes in the basket?
A: The possible combinations can be
1 triangle and 1 square, or 1 triangle and 1 rectangle.