Method 2:

Another way to find areas of polygons is to use Pick's Rule. To find out what Pick's rule is do the discovery activities below.

Lattice Grid Points and Area
Part 1: Below are some polygons with no points in the Interior (I) and the number of border points (B) varies. Find the areas of each polygon and enter your results in the table. The first two are done for you.




B
I
Area
3
0
1/2
4
0
1
5
0

6
0

7
0











Question: What would be the area of a polygon that had zero inside points and 15 boundary points? What did you do to figure out the area for 15 boundary points? Could you have used a rule (in equation form) to find the answer?


Part 2: Below are some polygons that have 1 interior point. What is the rule (equation) connecting B and Area for these shapes?





B
I
Area
3
1

4
1

5
1

6
1

7
1










Part 3: Below are some polygons that have 2 interior points. What is the rule ( equation) connecting B and Area for these shapes?






B
I
Area
3
2

4
2

5
2

6
2

7
2










Part 4: Summarize your findings from the three tables above. What conclusions do you draw? Can you write an equation that lets you find the area (A) from the number of points on the boundary (B) and points inside (I)?



*If you don't have Sketchpad you can create the shapes using Geogebra or the math learning center's geoboard.
Teacher's Page