The following is a sequence of structures made by joining identical cubes with 1-cm sticks as edges.
- How many sticks are needed to make structure 68?
- How many sticks are needed to make structure 170?
- A structure is made using 188 sticks. Which structure is it?
(a)
Pattern for the number of sticks
Structure 1: 1 x 8 + 4= 12
Structure 2: 2 x 8 + 4 = 20
Structure 3: 3 x 8 + 4 = 28
Formula
Number of sticks = Structure number x 8 + 4
Number of sticks for structure 68
= 68 x 8 + 4
= 548
(b)
Number of sticks for structure 170
= 170 x 8 + 4
= 1364
(c)
Number of sticks = Structure number x 8 + 4
Structure number = (Number of sticks - 4) ÷ 8
Structure number for structure made with 188 sticks
= (188 - 4) ÷ 8
= 184 ÷ 8
= 23
Answer(s): (a) 548; (b) 1364; (c) 23