Alien shape patterns

This task is about finding a rule for a growing pattern.
Gerry is using matchsticks to make "alien" shapes.  He has made three so far.
 
Alien pattern 1
Alien pattern 2
Alien pattern 3
Alien 1 Alien 2 Alien 3
 
a)
Draw Alien 4 in the space below.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
b)
Complete the following table.
 
Alien number 1 2 3 4 5 7 9
Number of matches used 7            
c)
Describe, in words, the rule which links the Alien number to the number of matches used.
 
 
 
 
 
d)
Using x for the Alien number and y for the number of matches, write your rule as a formula.
 
y =__________________________________
 
e)
Show how to use your formula to work out the number of matchsticks needed for Alien 21.
 
 
 
 
 
Number of matchsticks used: ________