MathematicsPascal’s Triangle

Date 22.10.13

James McKee

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Challenge overview

What is Pascal’s triangle? 1

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1 2 1

1 3 3 1

1 4 6 4 1

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Challenge overview

What is Pascal’s triangle?

What patterns can you spot?

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1 1

1 2 1

1 3 3 1

1 4 6 4 1

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Challenge overview

What is Pascal’s triangle?

What patterns can you spot?

Which rows have only odd numbers?

1

1 1

1 2 1

1 3 3 1

1 4 6 4 1

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Challenge overview

What is Pascal’s triangle?

What patterns can you spot?

Which rows have only odd numbers?

Odd/even pattern: fractals.

1

1 1

1 2 1

1 3 3 1

1 4 6 4 1

6

Challenge overview

What is Pascal’s triangle?

What patterns can you spot?

Which rows have only odd numbers?

Odd/even pattern: fractals.

Joke:

Q. What does the B in Benoît B Mandlebrot stand for?

1

1 1

1 2 1

1 3 3 1

1 4 6 4 1

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Challenge overview

What is Pascal’s triangle?

What patterns can you spot?

Which rows have only odd numbers?

Odd/even pattern: fractals.

Joke:

Q. What does the B in Benoît B Mandlebrot stand for?

A. Benoît B Mandelbrot

1

1 1

1 2 1

1 3 3 1

1 4 6 4 1

8

Challenge overview

Class experiment: coin tossing.

Come to the Science Festival to see a Galton board.

Challenge: understand the connection with Pascal’s triangle.

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Challenge overview

Class experiment: biased coin tossing.

Is the first digit after the decimal point of sin(n) even or odd?

Challenge: understand the connection with Pascal’s triangle.

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Curriculum links

Number Spot patterns

Use decimal numbers

Divisibility: odd or even

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Curriculum links

Statistics Design experiments

Appreciate the concept of bias

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Added value

Support and feedback from enthusiastic Royal Holloway staff.

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Added value

Support and feedback from enthusiastic Royal Holloway staff.

Come to Super Science Saturday and play with a Galton Board.

Questions?