Problem Solving

with Patterns
Section 6.2
 Learning Outcomes
At the end of this section, the students are
expected to:

1. predict the next term of a sequence

using a difference table;
2. determine the nth term formula of a
sequence;
3. solve Kenken puzzles; and
4. apply Polya’s problem-solving strategy.
 Solving terms of a sequence using
difference table
:
Definition 6.2.1 A difference table is a table made by
listing the terms of a sequence and its differences.

It includes the first difference, which is a sequence that

lists the differences of two consecutive terms of the
original sequence. For instance, the first term of the first
difference is the difference between the first and second
terms of the original sequence, the second term of the first
difference is the difference between the second and third
terms of the original sequence, and so forth.
Second-order differences, a sequence of differences
of the first differences, and other higher-order
differences can also be included in the table.
An important thing to notice is that we find the
differences by subtracting the earlier term from the
later term of the sequence and not by subtracting the
term with the smaller value from the term with the
larger value. Thus, it is possible to have a negative
number in the difference table.
Example 6.2.1 Use a difference table to predict
the next term in the sequence shown below.
3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ...

Solution
Sequence 3 6 9 12 15

First difference 3 3 3 3
In this case, the first differences are all the same.
Thus, if we use the above difference table to
predict the next number in the sequence, we
predict that 15 + 3 = 18 is the next term of the
sequence.
Example 6.2.2 Use a difference table to predict
the next term in the sequence.
2, 7, 24, 59, 118, 207, ...
Solution
Construct a difference table as shown below.

Sequence 2 7 24 59 118 207 332

First Difference 5 17 35 59 89 125

Second Difference 12 18 24 30 36

Third Difference 6 6 6 6
The third differences, shown in blue in row (4),
are all the same constant, 6. Extending row (4)
so that it includes an additional 6 enables us
to predict that the next second difference will
be 36.
Adding 36 to the first difference 89 gives us
the next first difference, 125. Adding 125 to the
sixth term 207 yields 332.
Using the method of extending the difference
table, we predict that 332 is the next term in
the sequence.
In Examples 6.2.1 and 6.2.2, we used a difference
table to predict the next term of a sequence.

In some cases we can use patterns to predict a

formula, called an nth-term formula, that
generates the terms of a sequence.
Example 6.2.3 Assume the pattern shown by
the square tiles in the following figures
continues.
a. What is the nth-term formula for the
number of tiles in the nth figure of the
sequence?
b. How many tiles are in the eighth figure of
the sequence?
c. Which figure will consist of exactly 320
tiles?
 a. Examine the figures for patterns.

Note that the second figure has two tiles on each of the
horizontal sections and one tile between the horizontal
sections.
The third figure has three tiles on each horizontal
sections and two tiles between the horizontal sections.
The fourth figure has four tiles on each horizontal
section and three tiles between the horizontal sections.
Thus, the number of tiles in the nth figure is given by
two groups of n plus a group of n less one.
That is,
an = 2n + (n – 1)
an = 3n – 1
b. The number of tiles in the eighth figure of the
sequence is 3(8) – 1 = 23.

c. To determine which figure in the sequence will have

320 tiles, we solve the equation 3n – 1 = 320.
3n – 1 = 320 Add 1 to each side
3n = 321 Divide each side by 3
n = 107
The 107th figure is composed of 320 tiles.
KenKen Puzzle
KenKen Puzzle is an arithmetic based logic
puzzle that was invented by the Japanese
mathematics teacher Tetsuya Miyamoto in
2004. KenKen translates as knowledge
squared or awareness squared.
KenKen puzzles are similar to Sudoku puzzles
but they also require you to perform arithmetic
to solve the puzzle.
 Rules for Solving a KenKen Puzzle
For a 3x3 puzzle, fill in each box(square) of the grid with
one of the numbers 1, 2 or 3.
• Do not repeat a number
• The numbers in each heavily outlined set of squares,
called cages must combine to produce the target
number in the top left corner of the cage using the
mathematical operation indicated.
• Cages with just one square should be filled in with the
target number.
• A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is
not in the same row or column.
Example 6.2.4 3 x 3 KenKen Puzzle
Solve the following Kenken Puzzles!
Polya’s Problem-Solving Strategy

One of the foremost recent

mathematicians to make a study
of problem solving was George Polya.
The basic problem-solving strategy
that Polya advocated consisted of
the following four steps.

1. Understand the problem.

- You must have clear
understanding of the problem.
- Can you restate the problem in
your own words?
2. Devise a plan.
- Successful problem solvers use a variety
of techniques when they attempt to solve
a problem.
3. Carry out a plan.
- Work carefully. Keep an accurate and
neat record of all your attempts.
- Realize that some of your initial plans will
not work so you have to modify your plan.
4. Review the solution.
- Once you have found a solution,
check the solution.
- Ensure that the solution is
consistent with the facts of the
problem.
In the next example, we apply
Polya’s four-step problem-solving
strategy to solve a problem involving
the number of routes between two
points.
Example 6.2.5 Consider the map shown
below. Jeff wishes to walk along the
streets from point A to point B. How
many direct routes can Jeff take?
Understand the Problem: We
would not be able to answer the
question if Jeff retraced his path or
traveled away from point B.

Thus, we assume that on a direct

route, he always travels along a
street in a direction that gets him
closer to point B.
Devise a Plan: The map in in the figure has
many extraneous details. Thus, we make a
diagram that allows us to concentrate on the
essential information. See the figure below.
Because there are many routes, we consider
the similar but simpler diagrams shown below.

Simple street diagrams

The number at each street intersection represents

the number of routes from point A to that particular
intersection.
Look for patterns. It appears that the number of
routes to an intersection is the sum of the
number of routes to the adjacent intersection to
its left and the number of routes to the
intersection directly above.

For instance, the number of routes to the

intersection labeled 6 is the sum of the number
of routes to the intersection to its left, which is
3, and the number of routes to the intersection
directly above, which is also 3.
Carry Out the Plan: Using the pattern discovered
earlier in the example, we see from the figure below
that the number of routes from point A to point B is
20 + 15 = 35.

A street diagram with the number of routes to each

routes to each intersection labeled
Review the Solution: Ask yourself whether
a result of 35 seems reasonable.

If you were required to draw each route,

could you devise a scheme that would
enable you to draw each route without
missing a route or duplicating a route?
EXERCISE SET 6.2
1. Construct a difference table to predict the next term of each
sequence.
a. 1, 7, 17, 31, 49, 71, . . .
b. -1, 4, 21, 56, 115, 204, . . .
c. 17, 15, 25, 53, 105, 187, . . .
2. Determine the nth-term formula for the number of square
tiles in the nth figure.
3. Solve the following KenKen Puzzles.
REFERENCES

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Sumalinog, J.D. (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World. MUTYA
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