MHB How Do You Determine the Number of Toothpicks in a Stack of Squares?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gurtejtaggar
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Algebra
AI Thread Summary
To determine the total number of toothpicks needed for a stack of squares, a quadratic function can be used based on the sequence of toothpick counts: 4, 10, 18, and 28. The first differences (6, 8, 10) indicate a constant second difference of 2, confirming a quadratic relationship. The function can be expressed as T(n) = k_1n^2 + k_2n + k_3, where the parameters k_i are derived from the given values. By solving the resulting linear system, it is found that T(n) = n^2 + 3n, which simplifies to n(n + 3). This provides a clear formula for calculating the toothpicks needed for any stack height n.
Gurtejtaggar
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
I am doing a problem in math which I can't seem to solve.The problem is apart of my discrete functions unit it grade 11 math. The question is: Toothpicks are used to make a sequence of stacked squares as shown. Determine a rule for calculating the total number of toothpicks needed for a stack of squares that is n high. It also gave a diagram with 4 terms and the number of toothpicks in each term was 4,10,18,28. I know that the first differences are 6,8 and 10 which means the second differences share a constant value of 2. Does this mean that I need to make a quadratic equation to find the answer or something else? If so, how would I? By the way, this problem is a thinking or extension problem.
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Your observations are correct...we can represent the total $T$ number of toothpicks for a stack $n$ levels high with the function:

$$T(n)=k_1n^2+k_2n+k_3$$

So, what you want to do is use the given values to determine the values of the parameters $k_i$.

$$T(1)=k_1+k_2+k_3=4$$

$$T(2)=4k_1+2k_2+k_3=10$$

$$T(3)=9k_1+3k_2+k_3=18$$

So, you have a linear 3X3 system to solve.

By the way, I am going to delete the duplicate of this thread posted in our "Chat Room" forum. :D
 
We could simplify matters by observing $T(0)=0$ and since then $k_3=0$ reduce the system to:

$$k_1+k_2=4$$

$$2k_1+k_2=5$$

Subtracting the former from the latter, we obtain:

$$k_1=1\implies k_2=3$$

And so we have:

$$T(n)=n^2+3n=n(n+3)$$
 
Suppose ,instead of the usual x,y coordinate system with an I basis vector along the x -axis and a corresponding j basis vector along the y-axis we instead have a different pair of basis vectors ,call them e and f along their respective axes. I have seen that this is an important subject in maths My question is what physical applications does such a model apply to? I am asking here because I have devoted quite a lot of time in the past to understanding convectors and the dual...
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. In Dirac’s Principles of Quantum Mechanics published in 1930 he introduced a “convenient notation” he referred to as a “delta function” which he treated as a continuum analog to the discrete Kronecker delta. The Kronecker delta is simply the indexed components of the identity operator in matrix algebra Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/what-exactly-is-diracs-delta-function/ by...
Back
Top