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IDENTIFYING PERFECT SQUARES

Jump right to the exercises!

Take the whole numbers and square them:
02 = 0
12 = 1
22 = 4
32 = 9
and so on.

The resulting numbers   0, 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, ...   are called perfect squares.

DEFINITION: perfect square
A number  p  is called a perfect square if and only if there exists a whole number  n  for which  p = n2 .

In this exercise, you will decide if a given number is a perfect square.

EXAMPLES:
Is  9  a perfect square? Answer: yes     (Note: 9 = 32)

Is  7  a perfect square? Answer: no

Is  172  a perfect square? Answer: yes

Is  74  a perfect square? Answer: yes     (Note: 74 = (72)2 )

Is  (-6)2  a perfect square? Answer: yes     (Note: (-6)2 = 62 )

Is  (-7)12  a perfect square? Answer: yes     (Note: (-7)12 = 712 = (76)2 )

Is  -4  a perfect square? Answer: no     (Note: a perfect square can't be negative)

Is  -62  a perfect square? Answer: no     (Note: -62 = -36; a perfect square can't be negative)

Type yes or no, all lowercase, for your answers.
 
Click on "new problem" to get started!


Is      a perfect square?

Put your answer here (yes or no, all lowercase):


Click here or press "tab" to check your answer:


When you're ready to time yourself, use these buttons.
When you "end timing," you'll get a summary sheet of your results. Good luck!
     


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One Mathematical Cat, Please! A First Course in Algebra
© 2004  Carol J.V. Fisher 		Creative Commons License
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