Primes and Powers

Aims & Learning Outcomes

The programme aims to:

• Explore simple algorithms leading to unexpected patterns on the number grid.
• Show how a task can be approached systematically.
• Demonstrate how looking for and finding patterns can simplify a task.
• Develop students’ understanding of multiples, primes, factors and powers.
• Provide entertaining lesson material with opportunities for further exploration.
• Demonstrate a practical problem-solving approach

After watching the programme, students should:

• Appreciate that it is helpful to adopt a systematic approach to applying rules.
• Understand that the grid helps to show patterns appearing.
• Recognise that establishing a pattern simplifies a task.
• Know the terms ‘factor’, ‘multiple’ and ‘prime number’ and how they are related.
• Appreciate that recognising sets of multiples is often helpful in solving a problem.
• Be aware that the set of prime numbers continues indefinitely beyond the set found on the grid and that some very large prime numbers are known.
• Understand the term ‘powers of 2’ and recognise that Mersenne numbers are generated from a formula involving these powers.