Fractal Mosaic

Instructions

This is an exercise in following very precise instructions. Click on the squares in the grid above that touch a coloured square along one side only as stated in the message at the top of the page.

After four squares have been clicked a "Check" button appears that you should use when you think you have finished a stage of the pattern. The message at the top of the page will then change telling you what to do next.

When your pattern has grown to fill the grid you will be awarded a Transum Trophy for your efforts.

This pattern is a basic example of a fractal, a design produced by repeating the same set of rules repeatedly. You could produce this pattern on squared paper using crayons and extend the pattern so that is becomes huge. Please send Transum a photograph of your completed fractal.

Mathematicians are not the people who find Maths easy; they are the people who enjoy how mystifying, puzzling and hard it is. Are you a mathematician?

Comment recorded on the 19 November 'Starter of the Day' page by Lesley Sewell, Ysgol Aberconwy, Wales:

"A Maths colleague introduced me to your web site and I love to use it. The questions are so varied I can use them with all of my classes, I even let year 13 have a go at some of them. I like being able to access Starters for the whole month so I can use favourites with classes I see at different times of the week. Thanks."

Comment recorded on the 23 September 'Starter of the Day' page by Judy, Chatsmore CHS:

"This triangle starter is excellent. I have used it with all of my ks3 and ks4 classes and they are all totally focused when counting the triangles."

Each month a newsletter is published containing details of the new additions to the Transum website and a new puzzle of the month.

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Answers

A finished version of this pattern is available to those who have a Transum Subscription and are signed in.

Go Maths

Learning and understanding Mathematics, at every level, requires learner engagement. Mathematics is not a spectator sport. Sometimes traditional teaching fails to actively involve students. One way to address the problem is through the use of interactive activities and this web site provides many of those. The Go Maths page is an alphabetical list of free activities designed for students in Secondary/High school.

Maths Map

Are you looking for something specific? An exercise to supplement the topic you are studying at school at the moment perhaps. Navigate using our Maths Map to find exercises, puzzles and Maths lesson starters grouped by topic.

Teachers

If you found this activity useful don't forget to record it in your scheme of work or learning management system. The short URL, ready to be copied and pasted, is as follows:

Alternatively, if you use Google Classroom, all you have to do is click on the green icon below in order to add this activity to one of your classes.

It may be worth remembering that if Transum.org should go offline for whatever reason, there is a mirror site at Transum.info that contains most of the resources that are available here on Transum.org.

When planning to use technology in your lesson always have a plan B!

Do you have any comments? It is always useful to receive feedback and helps make this free resource even more useful for those learning Mathematics anywhere in the world. Click here to enter your comments.