GRADE 9 Extended: BISCUIT PATTERNS ASSESSMENT

Criteria B & C
Name: ______________________

You have one class period to work on this and then you need to finish it for
homework. See the due date on Managebac.

Background to the investigation: One Saturday morning I was making chocolate chip
biscuits. When I placed the biscuit dough on the oven tray, I tried to space them so I could
get as many on one tray as possible.

The oven tray I was using was rectangular, and this is how the biscuits were placed:

I noticed that, by off-setting the biscuits, the biscuits were creating diagonal lines.
I wondered whether there was a connection between the number of biscuits in the longest
diagonal and the total number of biscuits on the tray.

Task 1:

1. Draw diagrams with the same pattern for trays of biscuits with 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 biscuits
in the longest diagonal and find the total number of biscuits for each tray.

2. Copy and complete the following table:

No. of biscuits in the 1 2 3 4 5 6

longest diagonal (n)
Total no. of biscuits on
the tray (T)
Task 2:

1. Explain any patterns you notice when looking at your diagrams.

2. Explain any patterns you notice when looking at the results in the table above.

3. Make a prediction for how many biscuits there will be on the tray if the longest
diagonal has 8 biscuits, using the pattern you have noticed. Draw the diagram to
check whether your prediction is correct.

Task 3:

1. In order to clearly see the patterns, you may need to draw some more trays of
biscuits.

2. Explain the relationship between the total number of biscuits and the longest diagonal
with an even number of biscuits. Write this in words and as a formula, explaining
what the letters stand for. Show all working.

Task 4:

1. Does this formula work for trays where the longest diagonal has an odd number of
biscuits? Show your working.

2. Look at the trays where the longest diagonal has an odd number of biscuits. Using
your results from the previous question, explain and justify the relationship between
the total number of biscuits and the longest diagonal with an odd number of biscuits.
Write this in words and as a formula, explaining what the letters stand for. Show all
working.

Task 5:

1. Test your two formulas to show that they work.

2. Looking at the diagrams of trays with odd numbers in the longest diagonal, find
another way to work out the total number of biscuits on the tray. Explain, using
algebra, how this is related to the formula you developed in Task 4.
 BISCUIT PATTERNS
MARKING RUBRIC

CRITERION B

0 No evidence of any understanding at all.

1 You have completed Task 1 with some success.
You have recognised one pattern for Task 2.
2 You have recognised some patterns in Task 2.
You have used these patterns to make a prediction in Task 2.
3-4 You have investigated trays with even numbers of biscuits in the longest
diagonal in Task 3.
You have developed a formula for Task 3.
5-6 You have tested your formula from Task 3 with odd numbers of biscuits in the
longest diagonal.
You have developed a formula for trays with odd numbers of biscuits in the
longest diagonal in Task 4.
7-8 You have tested both of your formulas in Task 5.
You have justified how you got your formula in Task 4 from the formula in Task
3.
You have shown another way to get the same formula for trays with an odd
number of biscuits in the longest diagonal in Task 5.

CRITERION C

0 No attempt is made to communicate or organise work.

1-2 Your mathematical language is limited.
The number of diagrams used to investigate is limited or there is no logical
setting out.
Your lines of reasoning are difficult to follow.
3-4 You use some appropriate mathematical language.
The diagrams drawn are adequate and adequately set out in a logical structure.
Your lines of reasoning are complete.
5-6 Your lines of reasoning are verbalised and are easy to follow.
You explain how you develop your formulas, using correct mathematical
symbols and language.
Your work is presented clearly and logically most of the time.
7-8 You use consistently appropriate mathematical language.
You explain your lines of reasoning clearly and fully.
Your diagrams are clearly labeled.
You have used tables to summarise your findings.
Your work is presented clearly and logically.