The Idea of a Variable

In the previous example, we created a rule to give the number of matchsticks required to make a pattern of Ls. The rule was :

Number of matchsticks required = 2n.

Here, n is the number of Ls in the pattern, and n takes values 1, 2, 3, 4,.... As the value of n goes on changing (increasing) , the number of matchsticks required also goes on changing (increasing).

Here, n is an example of a variableconstant.

Thus, its value is not fixed !

Now, let us look at similar examples of matchstick patterns to learn more about variables.