01-NelsonMathGr6-Chap01 7/18/05 8:30 AM Page 14

CHAPTER 1

4
Goal

You will need

grid paper
a calculator

Representing
Patterns on a Graph
Represent patterns in tables and on graphs.

Khaled is playing a video game called Real Life. In his current

job, he earns two tokens for each task that he does. In the
game, one piece of clothing costs 16 tokens.

many tasks does Khaled need to do to earn

? How
16 tokens?

Khaleds Solution
I used the pattern rule n  2 to
determine the number of tokens
I need to earn. I recorded values
in a table and graphed the data.

Number of
tasks, n

Pattern rule
n2

Total tokens
earned

02

12

22

32

42

I graphed five points: (0, 0), (1, 2),

(2, 4), (3, 6), and (4, 8).
For example, to plot the point for 4 tasks
and 8 tokens, I started at 0 on the axes
and moved 4 to the right and 8 up.
I noticed the points formed a line,
so I joined them with a dotted line.

14

Total tokens earned

I put the number of tasks on the horizontal

axis and the total tokens earned on the
vertical axis.

Total Tokens Earned

Compared to Number of Tasks
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Number of tasks

NEL

I extended the dotted line. Then I went to 16

on the Total tokens earned axis and estimated
where the point at that height would be on
the line. I looked down and read the value on
the Number of tasks axis. This point is at
eight tasks, so I need to do eight tasks
to earn 16 tokens.
I checked this number with my pattern rule.
The number of tokens earned for 8 tasks is
n  2  8  2  16.

Total tokens earned

01-NelsonMathGr6-Chap01 7/18/05 8:30 AM Page 15

The answer checks. I have to do 8 tasks to

earn 16 tokens.

Total Tokens Earned

Compared to Number of Tasks
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Number of tasks

Reflecting
1. In Khaleds pattern rule, what does the variable n
represent?
2. How did the graph help Khaled to know how many
tasks he had to do to earn 16 tokens?
3. Why is solving Khaleds problem using a graph actually
solving the number of tasks required to earn any
number of tokens, not just 16?

Checking

NEL

Tokens in Savings Compared

to Pieces of Furniture Bought
20 000
Tokens in savings

4. Li Ming is playing Real Life. She has saved 20 000 tokens

and wants to buy furniture for her house. Each piece of
furniture costs 2000 tokens. This graph shows how her
savings would decrease if she bought 1, 2, or 3 pieces
of furniture.
a) Use the graph to determine how many tokens Li Ming
would have if she bought 5 pieces of furniture.
b) Describe the pattern for the number of tokens Li Ming
has left.
c) How many pieces of furniture can she buy and still
have 4000 tokens?

10 000

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Pieces of furniture bought

15

01-NelsonMathGr6-Chap01 7/18/05 8:31 AM Page 16

Practising
5. Nathan is buying juice boxes in packages of three.
a) Make a table to show the total number of
Nathans juice boxes for 1 to 10 packages.
b) Graph the total number of juice boxes compared
to the total number of packages.
c) Describe the graph.
d) How many packages does Nathan need to buy
so 24 people get one box each?
6. Simone is buying juice boxes in packages of four.
a) Make a table to show the total number of
Simones juice boxes for 1 to 10 packages.
b) Graph the total number of juice boxes
compared to the total number of packages.
Use the same graph you used in Question 6,
but use a different colour.
c) Describe the graph.
d) How many packages does Simone need to buy
so 24 people can have one box each?
7. Terry earns $8 for each hour she works
at the corner store.
a) Copy and complete the table.
b) Graph Terrys total earnings compared
to the number of hours Terry works.
c) Determine the number of hours Terry
has to work to earn $75.

Number of
hours, h

Pattern rule
h8

Total
earnings

0
1
2
3
4

8. In the game Real Life, Ivan has saved 20 000 tokens.

He needs to pay 4500 tokens per month for food and rent.
He wants to quit working and learn a new skill. He will pay
for food and rent with his savings.
a) Make a table to show the total number of tokens Ivan
has for one to six months.
b) Graph the total number of tokens compared to the
number of months. Plot at least four points on the graph.
Connect the points with a dotted line.
c) For how many months will Ivans savings last?

16

NEL