Problem Solving Prompts

Learning Goals:

  • Predict terms in a pattern
  • Develop and apply reasoning skills to make and test math predictions
  • Communicate mathematical thinking orally and visually

The Challenge:

Imagine setting up some tables with chairs around them like this:

If this pattern continued, how many chairs would fit around a row of 10 tables?
What about a row of 20 tables?
What about a row of 57 tables?

Questions and Prompts to Support your Child:

  • What have you noticed? What have you tried so far? What could we try together?
  • Would 5 tables have half as many chairs as 10 tables? Why not?
  • Why don’t 20 tables have double the number of chairs that 10 tables had?
  • How did you count the chairs around each set of tables?
  • Did you notice any patterns? How did these patterns help you figure out longer rows?

Extensions & Adaptations:

  • The Mathies pattern block app might be useful in building some tables & chairs
  • Try figuring out some larger rows of tables, once the pattern has been discovered!
  • What would happen to the pattern if we used a different shaped table? (like triangles,
    hexagons, or trapezoids)