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

2 Answers
Jul 5, 2015

12801280 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*510or25. 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. 12801280 is not a perfect square.

Explanation:

a. 5329 = 73^25329=732
b. 1280 = 2^8*5 = (2^4)^2*5 = 16^2*51280=285=(24)25=1625
c. 3600 = 2^4*3^2*5^2 = (2^2*3*5)^2 = 60^23600=243252=(2235)2=602
d. 729 = 3^6 = (3^3)^2 = 27^2729=36=(33)2=272