A
problem involving a relationship between two sets of numbers can
often be solved my making a
table. A table helps you organize data so that you can see
the numerical relationship among the data and find the answer.
Making
a table makes it easier to find a pattern that leads to a problem's
solution.
Example
Read
Steve emailed his
picture to two friends. He asked each friend to email two
copies to friends. Each of these friends was then to mail
two pictures to friends, and so on. How many pictures were
sent in the fifth email?
Plan
One way to solve the
problem is to make a table.
Make a
table
email
1
2
3
4
5
pictures sent
2
2 x 2 =
4
2 x 2 x 2 =
8
2 x 2 x 2 x 2=
16
2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 =
32
The table helps
you see the relationship between the number of a mailing and
the number of pictures sent. In mailing 1, 2 appears
one
time as a factor. In mailing 2, 2 appears two times
as a
factor. In mailing 3, 2 appears three times as a factor. In
mailing 4, 2 appears four times as a factor.
So, in mailing
5, 2 must appear
five times as
a factor.
2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 =
32
In the
fifth email,
32 pictures were sent.
Remember:
Making a table helps organize the data given
in a problem and helps you see patterns.
A
problem involving a relationship between two sets of numbers can
often be solved my 
Making
a table makes it easier to find a pattern that leads to a problem's
solution.
