Mono-Polys

In this investigation you will be exploring the relationship between how a special shape is
constructed and the perimeter of one of its parts.

Mono-polys are structures made of multiple, identical, regular polygons with a resulting total
perimeter of 1 unit.
This is a mono-poly made of 10 regular (equilateral)
triangles. The perimeter is shown in red, and this is 1
unit long.

Part 1
The progression of several mono-polys are shown below, constructed with polygons with 3,
4 and 5 sides. Let n represent the number of individual shapes in the mono-poly and s
represent the number of sides for the individual shape. Let L be the number of lengths in a
mono-poly.

s=3

n 1 2 3 4

mono-poly

L 3 4 5 6

s=4

n 1 2 3 4

mono-poly

L 4 6 8 10

s=5

n 1 2 3 4

mono-poly

Number of total 5 8 11 14
sides

a) Describe a pattern:

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i) when s = 3
ii) when s = 4
iii) when s = 5

b) Predict how the total number of sides would change with each new addition if a
mono-poly was constructed from hexagons (s=6).

Part 2
It can be shown that the total number of lengths when s = 3 can be calculated as shown in
the bottom row of the table.

n 1 2 3 4

mono-poly

L 3 4 5 6

L= 3 3+1 3+1+1 3+1+1+1

a) Complete the table for s = 4 in a similar way, using your answer from Part 1, aii) to
help you.
s=4

n 1 2 3 4

mono-poly

L 4 6 8 10

L=

b) Describe a pattern about how the calculation for L changes as the value of s
increases.
c) Write down a general rule for Ls,n - the number of lengths in terms of the number of
shapes (n) and the number of sides in an individual shape (s).

Part 3
Using the definition of a mono-poly, particularly that their entire perimeter is always just 1
unit, find a general rule for the perimeter of an individual shape in any mono-poly in terms of
s and n. Verify and justify or prove your rule.

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 Mono-Polys

MYP4/5 Criterion B Task specific clarification

7-8 The student is able to: Part 3

i. select and apply appropriate mathematical i) Select and apply a method to identify patterns
problem solving techniques to discover complex about the perimeter of an individual shape in a
patterns mono-poly.
ii. describe these patterns as general rules
consistent with correct findings ii) Describe a correct general rule for Ps,n (the
iii. prove, or verify and justify, these general perimeter of one shape) in terms of n and s
rules
iii) Prove, or verify and justify your rule

5-6 The student is able to: Part 3

i. select and apply appropriate mathematical i) Select and apply a method to identify patterns
problem solving techniques to discover complex about the perimeter of an individual shape in a
patterns mono-poly.
ii. describe these patterns as general rules
consistent with findings ii) Describe a general rule for Ps,n (the perimeter of
iii. verify the validity of these general rules one shape) in terms of n and s.

iii) Verify your rule with other examples.

3-4 The student is able to: Part 2

i. apply mathematical problem solving techniques i) Apply (by calculating) problem solving
to discover patterns techniques to find patterns for L as s changes.
ii. suggest general rules consistent with findings
ii) Suggest a general rule for Ls, n

1-2 The student is able to: Part 1

i. apply, with teacher support, mathematical i) Apply (by observing) problem solving
problem solving techniques to discover patterns techniques to find patterns between the initial
ii. state predictions consistent with patterns shape used and how the number of sides increase
each time.

ii) Predict how the number of sides would change

for a hexagon.

0 The student does not reach a standard

described by any of the descriptors above.

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 Mono-Polys (ANSWERS)(marking guidelines)
In this investigation you will be exploring the relationship between how a special shape is
constructed and the perimeter of one of its parts.

Mono-polys are structures made of multiple, identical, regular polygons with a resulting total
perimeter of 1 unit.
This is a mono-poly made of 10 regular (equilateral)
triangles. The perimeter is shown in red, and this is 1
unit long.

Part 1
The progression of several mono-polys are shown below, constructed with polygons with 3,
4 and 5 sides. Let n represent the number of individual shapes in the mono-poly and s
represent the number of sides for the individual shape. Let L be the number of lengths in a
mono-poly.

s=3

n 1 2 3 4

mono-poly

L 3 4 5 6

s=4

n 1 2 3 4

mono-poly

L 4 6 8 10

s=5

n 1 2 3 4

mono-poly

Number of total 5 8 11 14
sides

a) Describe a pattern:

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i) when s = 3 L increases by 1 each time
ii) when s = 4 L increases by 2 each time
iii) when s = 5 L increases by 3 each time (1-2 i))

b) Predict how the total number of sides would change with each new addition if a
mono-poly was constructed from hexagons (s=6). L increases by 4 each time (1-2
ii))

Part 2
It can be shown that the total number of lengths when s = 3 can be calculated as shown in
the bottom row of the table.

n 1 2 3 4

mono-poly

L 3 4 5 6

L= 3 3+1 3+1+1 3+1+1+1

a) Complete the table for s = 4 in a similar way, using your answer from Part 1, aii) to
help you.
s=4

n 1 2 3 4

mono-poly

L 4 6 8 10

L= 4 4+2 4+2+2 4+2+2+2

b) Describe a pattern about how the calculation for L changes as the value of s
increases. The first number in the calculation is always s. The number added is
always 2 less than s. The amount of times it is added increases as n increases.
(3-4 i))
c) Write down a general rule for Ls,n - the number of lengths in terms of the number of
shapes (n) and the number of sides in an individual shape (s).
Ls, n = s + (s - 2)(n - 1) (3-4 ii) or the equivalent in words)

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Part 3
Using the definition of a mono-poly, particularly that their entire perimeter is always just 1
unit, find a general rule for the perimeter of an individual shape in any mono-poly in terms of
s and n. Verify and justify or prove your rule. (5-6 for patterns, rules, verifications etc.
which are consistent with incorrect findings)

n 1 2 3 4

mono-poly

L 3 4 5 6

Size of one 1/3 1/4 1/5 1/6

length

Perimeter of 3/3 = 1 3/4 3/5 3/6

one triangle

3
General rule of triangle perimeter P3,n = (7-8 i))
n+2

n 1 2 3 4

mono-poly

L 4 6 8 10

Size of one 1/4 1/6 1/8 1/10

length

Perimeter of 4/4 4/6 4/8 4/10

one square

4
General rule of square perimeter P4,n = (7-8 i))
2n+ 2

s
General rule of any mono-poly perimeter Ps,n= (7-8 ii))
( s−2)n+2

Verify: 5 hexagons (s = 6, n = 5) forming a mono-poly would mean one hexagon has a

6
perimeter of using my rule.(7-8 iii))
22

22 sides in total
Each length has a size
of 1/22 and a hexagon
has 6 sides which
equals a perimeter of
6/22
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Justify: the (s-2)n in the denominator comes from the fact that in a mono-poly, each
middle shape has 2 sides attached to other shapes and therefore not counting to the
perimeter. However, (s-2)n would mean that all n shapes lose 2 sides but this isn’t
true, the first and last shape only have one edge not counting to the perimeter so we
need to add 2 to the total number of lengths in the perimeter. Then because the whole
perimeter is 1 and all the lengths are equal (regular polygons) we need to do 1 divided
by the number of lengths - that is why it is the denominator. This just gives the size of
one length so if we want to know the perimeter of one shape, we need to find the
product of this length and the number of sides. This is why s is the numerator. (7-8 iii))

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