Stick Around Investigation Notes

Investigation 1

An even number of matches always encloses an even number of units, an odd number of matches encloses and odd number.

Investigation 2

The minimum area that can be created is always created by enclosing a row of triangles in a parallelogram if the number of matches is even and in a trapezium if the number of matches is odd.

If the number of matches is n, then the number of units enclosed is n-2

Investigation 3

6 matches can enclose a hexagon. Adding two more matches will increase the area by two.

7 matches can enclose an area of 7 and by moving two matches the area can be increased by 2

So for all values of n > 5 this will be possible

Investigation search

There are 14 different shapes that can be created on the triangle grid with a perimeter of 8 units.