Showing patterns in T-tables

In this lesson, we will learn:

• T-table are tools for keeping track of patterns and can help you predict the next terms in the pattern
• There are growing patterns and shrinking patterns involving figures and blocks/line segments/shapes or more realistic problems involving time and money

Notes:

• A T-table is a table with 2 columns (or more) that keeps track of patterns.

• A T-table is a table with 2 columns (or more) that keeps track of patterns.
• The second column (right) keeps track of the number of things being counted (ex. blocks, line segments, dollars, etc.)

• The two types of patterns you will see in T-tables are:
• growing patterns where the numbers in the pattern are getting bigger (increasing) in each successive line of the T-table
• shrinking patterns where the numbers in the pattern are getting smaller (decreasing) in each successive line of the T-table

Example: a growing pattern with blocks starts with a 4-block figure and adds 2 each time to make the next figure has a T-table filled out like this:

• T-tables allow you to predict and calculate the next terms in the pattern
• Using the previous block example, you can continue the pattern even if you dont have pictures of the next figures (4^th and 5^th figures):

• The same idea will apply for a shrinking pattern, but the relationship between each row will be subtracting an amount instead of adding.