Tea Cups

Patterns
06/05/2014
The Aim of this investigation was to investigate, recognise and analyse different patterns. We were to problem
solve our way through the worded challenge of: Aunt Jane had bought 16 cups and 16 saucers. There are 4
colours, green, white, blue and red. There are 4 green saucers and 4 cups and so on. Just for the fun of it you
decide to mix things around in to 16 unique combinations in cups and saucers. However, there are 5 other
rules that must be followed:-
1) They must in a square of 4x4
2) In any row there must only be one cup of each colour
3) In any row there must only be one saucer of each colour
4) In any column there must only be one cup of each colour
5) In any column there must only be one saucer of each colour
How ever there is a red cup on a red saucer but there is only one of it per colour
Act it Out/Guess and Check
I used this strategy by acting out we used MAB blocks instead of the real thing. To start with our team divided
in to two groups. My group then started by creating the base we laid it out so it met the rules and
requirements. We than started to lay the cups/ top layer on to the base this seemed very easy at first but then
it began to become quite a struggle. We thought it would be easier if aid it out bigger on so we noted where
our pieces were at the time and then started to reconfigure on a bigger base. This made it much easier for we
had the answer within minutes of making the change. (See evidence on top of previous page)
Draw a Diagram or Table
This strategy proved simpler than the previous one as all we needed to do was copy the results from the
previous strategy on to an enlarged diagram as the one on the task over view was too small. However it was
very time consuming. (See diagram on bottom of previous page)
To start with we used the BUCK strategy (Box the question, Underline important information, Circle interesting
vocabulary and Knock out irrelevant information. My team approached this task thinking it was going to be a
breeze although about 10% in to the activity we had a completely change of mind set (before :D, after :/ ). We
then decided what strategies we were going to use to help us solve this problem. After that we proceeded
through completing the strategies.
Mt team and I proceeded through the task without too much difficulty. We met the criteria and fixed things
where necessary. At the start of the activity some people were not working cooperatively how ever we worked
as a team to solve this problem and got everybody joining in and working
pro-actively.
The investigation was to be worked through using different problem solving strategies. The one that we used ,
that I found most affective, was the Act it Out strategy. We combined it with another strategy called Guess
and Check. With these two strategies we were able to effectively find the answer.

By Thomas
Word count = 545