Final Mi Pretzy

ILOILO STATE COLLEGE OF FISHERIES- SAN ENRIQUE CAMPUS
College of Education
Billiards Ball Path at 450
A Mathematical Investigation
Presented to the
Mathematics Skills Expo 2023
ILOILO STATE UNIVERSITY OF FISHERIES,
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Subject Problem Solving, Mathematical Investigation and
Modelling
By
LIBERTY PACHES
CHERRY PAGDATO
PRETZY JADE PANES
2023
Introduction
The term “billiard” is derived from French, either from the word “billart”, one of the wooden sticks, or
“bille”, a ball. The game of billiards is played on a rectangular table (known as a billiard table) upon which balls
are placed. One ball (the "cue ball") is then struck with the end of a "cue" stick, causing it to bounce into other
balls and reflect off the sides of the table.
Mathematical billiards is an idealization of what we experience on a regular pool table. The detailed
mathematical study of billiards trajectories gives rise to many interesting problems dealing with unusual table
shapes such as circles, ellipses and polygons. Furthermore, the balls have no mass and move with no spin, which
means they travel without friction at a constant speed in a straight line. Besides, there are no pockets that can
swallow the ball. This means that the ball will bounce infinitely on the sides of the billiard table.
Statement of the Problem
Imagine a rectangle on a dot paper. Suppose it is a pool table.
Investigate the path of a ball which starts at one corner of the table ,is pushed to an edge, bounces off
that edge to another ,and so on, as shown in the diagram .When the ball finally reaches a corner it
drops off the table.
Notes:
a). The direction of the starting point of the ball must always 45 0 from its side.
b). Dots are equally distant.
c). There are only four (4) holes or four (4) exits considered because it was stated in the problem that the ball
will only drop off when it reaches a corner.
d). Having the same number of dots in a column and in a row are disregarded.
e). The speed of the ball must be constant.

Questions to be investigate:
1. How many numbers of squares made inside the rectangle considering the number of dots in a
column?
2. How many numbers of squares made inside the rectangle considering the number of dots in a
row?
3. On what corner of the pool table the ball drops off?
4. How many numbers of squares made inside the rectangle, if the number of dots in a row and in
a column is even?
5. How many numbers of squares made inside the rectangle, if the number of dots in a row and in
a column is odd?
Data Gathering and Conjectures
A. How many numbers of squares made inside the rectangle considering the number of dots in
a column?
Number of Number Number

Dots in a of Figure
of
Column Dots in a squares
Row made
5 4 3
5 6 7
5 8 11
5 10 15
5 12 19
5 14 23
B. How many numbers of squares made inside the rectangle considering the number of dots in
a row?
Number of Number of Dots in Figure Number of

Dots in a a Row Squares
Column made
4 5 3
6 5 7
8 5 11
10 5 15
12 5 19
14 5 23
C. On what corner of the pool table the ball drops off?
Number of Number of Corner that
Dots in a Dots in a Figure The Ball
Column Row Drops Off
3 5
Adjacent
Corner
Opposite
4 6
Corner
5 7 Adjacent
Corner
6 8 Opposite
Corner
7 9
Adjacent
Corner
8 10 Opposite
Corner
D. How many numbers of squares made inside the rectangle if the number of dots in a
row and in a column is even?
Number of Number of Number of

Dots in a Dots in a Figure
squares
Column Row made
2 4 0
4 6 4
6 8 16
8 10 40
10 12 80
E. How many numbers of squares made inside the rectangle if the number of dots in a
row and in a column is odd?

Squares
Column Row Made
3 5 0
5 7 1
7 9 3
9 11 7
11 13 13
13 15 22
Conjectures:
Conjecture A
If the number of dots in a column is five (5), we can get the number of squares by using the
formula
4n – 1 = m
where:
n = number of terms
m = number of squares
Conjecture B
If the number of dots in a column and in a row are both odd, the ball drops off on one of the
corners adjacent to the corner where the ball started rolling.

Conjecture C
If the number of dots in a column and in a row are both even, the ball drops off on one of the
corners opposite to the corner where the ball started rolling.
Conjecture D
If the number of dots in a column and in a row are both even, the number of squares made
inside the rectangle is also even. By using the formula
3
2n −2 n
=m
3
where:
n = number of terms
m = number of squares
Conjecture E
If the number of dots in a column and in a row are both odd, the number of squares made
inside the rectangle is also odd.

Testing of Conjectures
Conjecture A
If n=1,then m=3, 4(1)-1 = 3
If n=2,then m=7, 4(2)-1 = 7
If n=3,then m=11, 4(3)-1 = 11
If n=4,then m=15, 4(4)-1 = 15
If n=5,then m=19, 4(5)-1 = 19
If n=6,then m=23, 4(6)-1 = 23

Conjecture B
Considering the number of dots in a column and in a row as both even, the ball always drops
off on the corner opposite to the corner where the ball started rolling.

the Ball
Column Row drops Off
2 4
Opposite
Corner
4 6 Opposite
Corner
Opposite
6 8
Corner
8 10 Opposite
Corner
Conjecture C
Considering the number of dots in a column and in a row as both odd,the ball always drops off
on the corner adjacent to the corner where the ball started rolling.

the Ball
Column Row drops Off
3 5 Adjacent
Corner
5 7
Adjacent
Corner
7 9 Adjacent
Corner
Conjecture D
3
2(1) −2(1)
If n=1,then m=0, =0
3
3
2(2) −2(2)
If n=2,then m=4, =4
3
3
2(3) −2(3)
If n=3,then m=16, = 16
3
3
2(4) −2(4 )
If n=4,then m=40, = 40
3
3
2(5) −2(5)
If n=5,then m=80, = 80
3
Conjecture E
Considering the number of dots in a column and in a row as both odd. Although most of
the figures agree with conjecture, I had found a counter example if the number of dots in a
column or in a row is odd. For instance, if the number of dots in a column is 13 and the number
of dots in a row is 5 this conclude that the conjecture is false because the number of squares
made is 0 which is even. Same also if the column is 13 and the row is 15.

squares
Column Row made
3 5 0
5 7 1
7 9 3
9 11 7
11 13 13
13 15 22
Summary
In this investigation, some aspects were examined:
a. The number of squares inside the rectangle
b. The testing of conjectures from A to E
c. The presentation of conjectures from A to E
d. The figures drawn for the cases considered
e. The elaboration of this investigation
f. The patterns observed
g. The table showing the data obtained from the investigation
h. The account aspect involving the numbers of dots in a column.

Possible Extension
Investigate the number of remaining dots not covered by the ball.

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ILOILO STATE COLLEGE OF FISHERIES- SAN ENRIQUE CAMPUS

Billiards Ball Path at 450

Mathematics Skills Expo 2023

ILOILO STATE UNIVERSITY OF FISHERIES,

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

PRETZY JADE PANES

balls and reflect off the sides of the table.

Statement of the Problem

Imagine a rectangle on a dot paper. Suppose it is a pool table.

drops off the table.

b). Dots are equally distant.

will only drop off when it reaches a corner.

e). The speed of the ball must be constant.

3. On what corner of the pool table the ball drops off?

Data Gathering and Conjectures

Number of Number Number

Number of Number of Dots in Figure Number of

Dots in a a Row Squares

C. On what corner of the pool table the ball drops off?

Number of Number of Corner that

Dots in a Dots in a Figure The Ball

Column Row Drops Off

row and in a column is even?

Number of Number of Number of

row and in a column is odd?

Number of Number of Number of

corners adjacent to the corner where the ball started rolling.

corners opposite to the corner where the ball started rolling.

inside the rectangle is also even. By using the formula

inside the rectangle is also odd.

If n=1,then m=3, 4(1)-1 = 3

If n=2,then m=7, 4(2)-1 = 7

If n=3,then m=11, 4(3)-1 = 11

If n=4,then m=15, 4(4)-1 = 15

If n=5,then m=19, 4(5)-1 = 19

If n=6,then m=23, 4(6)-1 = 23

Number of Number of Corner that

Number of Number of Corner that

Number of Number of Number of

In this investigation, some aspects were examined:

a. The number of squares inside the rectangle

b. The testing of conjectures from A to E

c. The presentation of conjectures from A to E

d. The figures drawn for the cases considered

e. The elaboration of this investigation

f. The patterns observed

g. The table showing the data obtained from the investigation

h. The account aspect involving the numbers of dots in a column.

Investigate the number of remaining dots not covered by the ball.

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