In this activity, students investigate the growth of a pattern from one figure to the next. As students use their own strategy for finding the number of tiles needed for the nth figure, they will use various representations to answer questions. Students find the explicit rule for the pattern, create a scatter plot, graph the situation, and make predictions. Students will analyze the slope in this situation and model how the slope shows up algebraically, numerically, and graphically.

Teacher Preparation
This activity is appropriate for students in Algebra 1. It is assumed that students have recently been introduced to pattern growth.

Teacher Preparation
This activity is appropriate for students in Algebra 1. It is assumed that students have recently been introduced to pattern growth, tables, and finding a general rule.