Difference between revisions of "Figurate numbers"
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Most of us are familiar with triangular numbers, such as the arrangement of ten bowling pins in a triangle, | Most of us are familiar with triangular numbers, such as the arrangement of ten bowling pins in a triangle, | ||
| − | . . . | + | .<br> |
| − | + | . .<br> | |
| − | + | . . .<br> | |
| − | + | . . . . | |
or square numbers, | or square numbers, | ||
| − | . . . . | + | . . . .<br> |
| − | . . . . | + | . . . .<br> |
| − | . . . . | + | . . . .<br> |
| − | . . . . | + | . . . . |
but we don't necessarily know how their arithmetic works, or whether we can do the same with, say, pentagons. | but we don't necessarily know how their arithmetic works, or whether we can do the same with, say, pentagons. | ||
Can we learn something by telling a turtle how to make these numbers? Let's try. | Can we learn something by telling a turtle how to make these numbers? Let's try. | ||
Revision as of 17:43, 8 July 2011
Most of us are familiar with triangular numbers, such as the arrangement of ten bowling pins in a triangle,
.
. .
. . .
. . . .
or square numbers,
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
but we don't necessarily know how their arithmetic works, or whether we can do the same with, say, pentagons.
Can we learn something by telling a turtle how to make these numbers? Let's try.