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Problem of the Week
Problem B
Into the Fold…

  1. Fold a piece of paper in half. Unfold it and count the number of rectangles you created. Write your answer in the table below.

    Now refold the paper in half, and then fold it in half again. Unfold it, count the rectangles, and write your answer in the table.

    Repeat with 3 folds, and then with 4 folds, filling in the table as you go.

    Keep trying for as many folds as you can, counting the number of rectangles with each fold.

    Tissue paper works best for this activity. Any size is fine, but it should be rectangular.

    Number of Folds Number of Rectangles
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7

    A rectangular piece of paper with a vertical fold line and a horizontal fold line. The fold lines create four smaller rectangles.

  2. Write a pattern rule for how the number of rectangles is changing.

  3. Using your pattern rule, predict how many rectangles you would get if you could do 8 folds.