Which number is not a perfect square a.5,329 b.1,280 c.3,600 d.729?

2 Answers
Jul 5, 2015

#1280# is not a square.

Explanation:

Of course you could use your calculator to find out, but in this case it can be done faster.

A square can never end in an odd number of zeroes. A zero at the end points to a factor #10or2*5#. In a square all factors are paired, so there should be an even number of zeroes.

BTW: this does not mean that every number ending in two zeroes is a square!

Jul 5, 2015

b. #1280# is not a perfect square.

Explanation:

a. #5329 = 73^2#
b. #1280 = 2^8*5 = (2^4)^2*5 = 16^2*5#
c. #3600 = 2^4*3^2*5^2 = (2^2*3*5)^2 = 60^2#
d. #729 = 3^6 = (3^3)^2 = 27^2#