Patterns and polynomials go hand in hand. Budding mathematicians analyze sequences of dot diagrams to discover the patterns in the number of white dots and black dots. They use the identified patterns to write and simplify a polynomial expression for the total number of dots. Finally, a card-matching activity tests their understanding of the concept.

Concepts

polynomial expressions, factoring polynomials, expanded notation, algebraic expressions, patterns

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Additional Tags

math

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Instructional Ideas

• Have pupils create patterns using dot diagrams and challenge classmates to find an appropriate polynomial expression
  

Classroom Considerations

• Learners should already be familiar with polynomial expressions
• Pattern recognition is a prerequisite skill
  

Pros

• Provides suggestions on how to modify the lesson to two days
• Includes sample answers
  

Cons

• None

Common Core

MP2 MP7 MP8 HSA-SSE.A.1.a HSA-SSE.A.2 HSA-SSE.B.3.a HSA-APR.A.1 HSA-APR.C.4 HSA-APR.C.5