From patterns to Graphs

We have been building patterns recently using square tiles.  Today we branched into graphing these patterns.

Each group was given 3 equations (pattern rules) to build and graph.

Each of the patterns had something in common.  Here you can see figure 0,1,2,3 of each pattern with the constant in green and the growing pattern in yellow.  We’ve noticed how the coefficient in the pattern shows us the “stairs”.  The bigger the number the steeper the stairs.

We graphed figure number on the horizontal axis and the number of squares vertically.

We would have done more, but we had a lockdown drill.  We will continue this inquiry tomorrow.