Coloring Remainders Exploration Questions
Pascal's Triangle is very interesting from a number pattern point of
view. We've already seen the interesting 2-color patterns from
coloring multiples of numbers.
Now we are going to look at remainders.
- Find the quotients and remainders when each number in
row 4 of Pascal's triangle is
divided by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, filling in the table below:
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1 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
1 |
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Q | R |
Q | R |
Q | R |
Q | R |
Q | R |
÷ 2 |
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÷ 3 |
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÷ 4 |
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÷ 5 |
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÷ 6 |
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÷ 7 |
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What happens when we divide by numbers larger than the largest
number in the row in general?
- Now try coloring Pascal's
Triangle on paper, using 3 as the divisor. Color all remainders
0 one color, remainders 1 another color, and remainders 2 a third
color.
- Use the Coloring Remainders Activity
to explore other patterns.
Try at least three different numbers. Do you see a general pattern?
Can you describe how each number you try relates to the pattern for
that number?
- How do these patterns compare to the ones you found with the
Coloring Multiples Activity?
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