Alter One Position in a Repeat

Supplied materials

• Paper and a pencil for a border of repeated shapes. You can also type the shapes in order.
• Read this example: A border repeats circle 3 times. The brief asks for one variation at its last position while the earlier positions stay identical. Which plan follows it? Supplied candidates: (A) Add dot before every circle (B) Keep the first 2 circles; replace only the last with dot (C) Replace every circle with dot (D) Replace the first and last positions.
• Try this question: A border repeats square 4 times. The brief asks for one variation at its last position while the earlier positions stay identical. Which plan follows it? Supplied candidates: (A) Add leaf before every square (B) Keep the first 3 squares; replace only the last with leaf (C) Replace every square with leaf (D) Replace the first and last positions.

Learn the idea

A variation changes part of a pattern. Keep the other positions unchanged so someone can compare the changed shape with the original pattern.

Reason through the supplied case: A variation alters a specified part of an established repeat. This plan changes exactly position 3, leaving the first 2 motifs intact. Replacing all positions would create a different repeated motif rather than the requested single change.

Changing every position replaces the pattern rather than varying one requested location. Label the intended changed position before revising the border.

1. Read the circle-border directions. Find which position should change and which positions should stay the same.
2. Explain why changing only the third circle keeps the first two positions unchanged.
3. Try the question and all three practice questions before checking their answers.
4. Draw six repeated triangles, then change only the sixth to a circle.
5. Check your work: Positions one through five remain identical; exactly the final position changes.

Check your reasoning

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Take it further

Try one more question: A border repeats square 6 times. The brief asks for one variation at its last position while the earlier positions stay identical. Which plan follows it? Supplied candidates: (A) Add leaf before every square (B) Keep the first 5 squares; replace only the last with leaf (C) Replace every square with leaf (D) Replace the first and last positions. Answer: Keep the first 5 squares; replace only the last with leaf. A variation alters a specified part of an established repeat. This plan changes exactly position 6, leaving the first 5 motifs intact. Replacing all positions would create a different repeated motif rather than the requested single change. Now make your own work: Draw six repeated triangles, then change only the sixth to a circle. Check your work: Positions one through five remain identical; exactly the final position changes.

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