Stellar Numbers

I started off with some data collection for my 4 stellar shapes.

Jonny Young IB MATH SL Type I

Triangle (n) # of dots (Sn)

1 1

2 3

3 6

4 10

5 15

6 21

7 28

8 36

At first I thought it was an either an arithmetic or geometric sequence. I then deduced that it could not have been an arithmetic series because of the fact that it does not terms do not differ from the previous one by fixed numbers. I thought that perhaps it was a geometric sequence, but I wasnt able to figure out a ratio in which each term differed by. I then deduced it was not a sequence, but an arithmetic series (increases by a fixed number and adds those numbers together). As seen in the diagram, as the term number increases by one, the number of rows also increase. The term number is equal to the number of rows. Also as the term number is equal to the number of dots on the bottom row, the number of dots decreasing by one with each row above it until it reaches the row with one dot. It was then when I realized that I was looking at the series in the wrong perspective. I was trying to figure out the series while looking at each triangle as a whole, while I should have been looking at the relationship between each row and the terms. The relationship between the terms and the number of the dots in each row was simple, as the term number increased by one, so did the number of dots in the row.

Jonny Young IB MATH SL Type I The formula for an arithmetic series is as stated: Sn = n (u1 + un) / 2 Sn is the number of dots that are in the nth triangle n is the number of the triangular figure (n 0) u1 is the number of dots in the first triangle (= to 1) Now the formula to figure out un is the general formula for arithmetic sequences. d is the difference of dots between each row as the term number increases by one n is the number of the triangular figure un = u1 + (n 1) d un = 1 + (n 1) d un = 1 + n 1 un = n We can now plug this into our arithmetic series formula: Sn = n (u1 + n) / 2 Sn = n (1 + n) / 2 Sn = [n2 + n] / 2

I can conclude that this formula can be used to figure out the number of dots in a specific triangle. To prove my formula, I will perform some validity tests: Test #1: n= 6 S6 = [62 + 6] / 2 S6 = [36 + 6] / 2 S6 = 21 Looking at the diagram above, this statement is correct. Test #2: n=8 S8 = [82 + 8] / 2 S8 = [64 + 8] / 2 S8 = 36 Once again, looking at the diagram above, this statement is correct. I can conclude that this formula is correct and can be used to determine the number of dots in a specific triangle within this arithmetic series as the results of the test match up with the diagrams drawn/predictions.

I started off with some data collection on my 6-stellar figures:

Jonny Young IB MATH SL Type I

Stellar Shape (n) # of dots (Sn)

1 1

2 13

3 37

4 73

5 121

6 181

At first look, I noticed that with each increase in n, there was an increase of multiples of 12 in Sn. I noticed that it starts off with 1 then adds multiples of 12 to the previous sum. Here is a chart to show the change. Stellar Shape (n) # of dots (Sn) 1 1+0 2 1 + 12 3 13 + 24 4 37 + 36 5 73 + 48 6 121 + 60

The way I figured this out was I looked at it as a perfect arithmetic series with multiples of 12. I ignored the 1st dot in S1 and thought of S2 as S1. To show what I mean, I will present my data in a table. Stellar Shape (n) # of dots (Sn) 1 12 2 36 3 72 4 120 5 180

Jonny Young IB MATH SL Type I In actuality, stellar shape #1 is actually stellar shape #2 minus 1 because of the middle dot. With this, I came up with this series formula: Sn = n (u1 + un) / 2 To figure out what un was I just put in the arithmetic sequence formula: un = u1 + (n 1) d un = 12 + (n 1) 12 un = 12n I know the difference is 12 because it is in multiples of 12 and I know that first term is equal to 12 as it begins with 12. Now I can plug it into the series formula: Sn = n (u1 + un) / 2 Sn = n [u1 + (12n)] / 2 Now when I test this formula, it works perfectly with the table that I created myself. S5 = 5 [12 + 12(5)] / 2 S5 = 180 The problem now is that I have to shift n back one so that S2 is equal to S1. I also need to add 1 to accommodate the middle dot. I can do so by simply subtracting 1 from n in my formula. Sn = n [12 + (12n)] / 2 Sn = ((n 1) [12 + 12(n 1)] / 2) + 1 Sn = [12n (n 1) / 2] + 1 This is now my finished formula for 6-stellar figures. I will now validate my formula by testing it with S7 . Sn = [12n (n 1) / 2] + 1 S7 = [12(7) (7 1) / 2] + 1 S7 = [(84) (6) / 2] + 1 S7 = 252 + 1 S7 = 253 This formula is proven correct. My formula can determine the exact number of dots in any 6-stellar figure granted that it remains in this pattern with 1 in the middle and having multiples of 12 on each new outer layer.