row 1: 2 cans, total of 2 cans
row 2: 4 cans, total of 6 cans
row 3: 6 cans, total of 12 cans
etc etc
now, lets look at these numbers, and make some ratios here,
skipping right to row 2.
so in row 2, we had a total of 6 cans, so if we take the number of
rows over the number of cans, we can simplify the fraction: 2(row
#)/6(total cans) = 1/3
now, in row 3, we have the total of 12 cans. so lets do that, 3/12
= 1/4
row 4, total of 20 cans, 4/20 = 1/5
and so on.
so lets pick one of these ratio, we can use row 2. 2/6 = 1/3. what
can we figure out from here?
row/total cans = 1/row+1
so lets do some math to figure out which row we have 1190 cans in.
let X be the row.
X/1190 = 1/X+1
lets do some simple math..
1190(1) = X(X+1)
a little further..
1190 = X^2 + X
0 = X^2 + X - 1190
lets use the quadratic forumula:
where a = 1, b = 1, c = -1190
do some work, and you come out with a 34.
