1760 Pots of Gold and Rainbows

Today’s Puzzle:

Write the numbers 1 to 12 in the first column and again in the top row so that those numbers are the factors that make the given clues. It’s a level 6, so it won’t be easy. Finding a leprechaun’s pot of gold isn’t easy either. Still, if you can solve this puzzle, then you will have found some real golden nuggets of knowledge.

They say there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Where’s the rainbow?

Factors of 1760:

Puzzle number, 1760, has many factors. It makes a very big factor rainbow!

  • 1760 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1760 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 5 × 11, which can be written 1760 = 2⁵ × 5 × 11.
  • 1760 has at least one exponent greater than 1 in its prime factorization so √1760 can be simplified. Taking the factor pair from the factor pair table below with the largest square number factor, we get √1760 = (√16)(√110) = 4√110.
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 5, 1, and 1. Adding one to each exponent and multiplying we get (5 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 6 × 2 × 2 = 24. Therefore 1760 has exactly 24 factors.
  • The factors of 1760 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

More About the Number 1760:

1760 is the hypotenuse of a Pythagorean triple:
1056-1408-1760 which is (3-4-5) times 352.

1760 is the difference of two squares in eight different ways:
441² – 439² = 1760,
222² – 218² = 1760,
114² – 106² = 1760,
93² – 83² = 1760,
63² – 47² = 1760,
54² – 34² = 1760,
51² – 29² = 1760,  and
42² – 2² = 1760. (That means we are only four numbers away from the next perfect square!)

1760 is palindrome 2102012 in base 3
because 2(3⁶)+1(3⁵)+ 0(3⁴)+2(3³)+0(3²)+1(3¹)+2(3º) = 1760.

1746 Love-Struck with Multiplication

Today’s Puzzle:

If you solve this Valentine’s multiplication table puzzle, you might just become love-struck with multiplication! It’s a level 6 puzzle so you might find most of the clues to be tricky. Be sure to use logic as you place each number from 1 to 10 in both the first column and also in the top row. There is only one solution.

Factors of 1746:

  • 1746 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1746 = 2 × 3 × 3 × 97, which can be written 1746 = 2 × 3² × 97.
  • 1746 has at least one exponent greater than 1 in its prime factorization so √1746 can be simplified. Taking the factor pair from the factor pair table below with the largest square number factor, we get √1746 = (√9)(√194) = 3√194.
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 1, 2, and 1. Adding one to each exponent and multiplying we get (1 + 1)(2 + 1)(1 + 1) = 2 × 3 × 2 = 12. Therefore 1746 has exactly 12 factors.
  • The factors of 1746 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

More About the Number 1746:

Why is 1746 the sum of two squares? We can tell by looking at its PRIME factors:
2 is a power of 2,
3² is an even power, and
97 is a prime Pythagorean hypotenuse. (It is prime and one more than a positive multiple of 4).

At least one of its prime factors is a Pythagorean triple hypotenuse, and ALL of the rest of its non-Pythagorean-hypotenuse prime factors are either a power of 2 or combine to make a perfect square. Thus, 1746 is the sum of two squares. What are the two squares?
39² + 15² = 1746.

1746 is the hypotenuse of a Pythagorean triple:
1170-1296-1746, calculated from 2(39)(15), 39² – 15², 39² + 15².
It is also 18 times (65-72-97).

 

1725 A Toast to You on This Last Day of the Year

Today’s Puzzle:

I haven’t posted as much this past year as I ought, but thank you for bearing with me. Here is a toast to you, faithful reader! Here’s hoping for a great new year for all of us! Write the numbers from 1 to 10 in both the first column and the top row so that the given clues are the products of the factors you write.

Factors of 1725:

  • 1725 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1725 = 3 × 5 × 5 × 23, which can be written 1725 = 3 × 5² × 23.
  • 1725 has at least one exponent greater than 1 in its prime factorization so √1725 can be simplified. Taking the factor pair from the factor pair table below with the largest square number factor, we get √1725 = (√25)(√69) = 5√69.
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 1, 2, and 1. Adding one to each exponent and multiplying we get (1 + 1)(2 + 1)(1 + 1) = 2 × 3 × 2 = 12. Therefore 1725 has exactly 12 factors.
  • The factors of 1725 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

More About the Number 1725:

1725 is the difference of two squares in six different ways:

863² – 862² = 1725,
289² – 286² = 1725,
175² – 170² = 1725,
65² – 50² = 1725,
49² – 26² = 1725, and
47² – 22² = 1725.

 

1704 Christmas Factor Tree

Today’s Puzzle:

If you know the factors of the clues in this Christmas tree, and you use logic, it is possible to write each number from 1 to 12 in both the first column and the top row to make a multiplication table. It’s a level six puzzle, so it won’t be easy, even for adults, but can YOU do it?

Factors of 1704:

If you were expecting to see a factor tree for the number 1704, here is one of several possibilities:

  • 1704 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1704 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 71, which can be written 1704 = 2³ × 3 × 71.
  • 1704 has at least one exponent greater than 1 in its prime factorization so √1704 can be simplified. Taking the factor pair from the factor pair table below with the largest square number factor, we get √1704 = (√4)(√426) = 2√426.
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 3,1 and 1. Adding one to each exponent and multiplying we get (3 + 1)(1 + 1) (1 + 1) = 4 × 2 × 2 = 16. Therefore 1704 has exactly 16 factors.
  • The factors of 1704 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.


More About the Number 1704:

1704 is the difference of two squares in FOUR different ways:
427² – 425² = 1704,
215² – 211² = 1704,
145² – 139² = 1704, and
77² – 65² = 1704.

Why was Six afraid of Seven? Because Seven ate Nine.
1704 is 789 in a different base:
1704₁₀ = 789₁₅ because 7(15²) + 8(15¹) + 9(15º) = 1704.

1689 Candy Corn Again?!

Today’s Puzzle:

Here’s yet one more candy corn puzzle. You would think it was everyone’s favorite kind of candy the way it is represented on this blog! This puzzle is level 6, so you will probably find it more difficult to solve. Using logic, write the numbers from 1 to 12 in both the first column and the top row so that those numbers and the given clues form a multiplication table.

Factors of 1689:

  • 1689 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1689 = 3 × 563.
  • 1689 has no exponents greater than 1 in its prime factorization, so √1689 cannot be simplified.
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 1 and 1. Adding one to each exponent and multiplying we get (1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 2 × 2 = 4. Therefore 1689 has exactly 4 factors.
  • The factors of 1689 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

More About the Number 1689:

1689 is the difference of two squares in two different ways:
845² – 844² = 1689, and
283² – 280² = 1689.

 

1669 and Level 6

Today’s Puzzle:

Some sets of clues in this puzzle have two possible common factors, and another set has three possible common factors. Don’t guess which ones to use, but use logic instead! Write the numbers 1 to 12 in both the first column and the top row so that those numbers and the given clues form a multiplication table.

Factors of 1669:

  • 1669 is a prime number.
  • Prime factorization: 1669 is prime.
  • 1669 has no exponents greater than 1 in its prime factorization, so √1669 cannot be simplified.
  • The exponent in the prime factorization is 1. Adding one to that exponent we get (1 + 1) = 2. Therefore 1669 has exactly 2 factors.
  • The factors of 1669 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

How do we know that 1669 is a prime number? If 1669 were not a prime number, then it would be divisible by at least one prime number less than or equal to √1669. Since 1669 cannot be divided evenly by 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, or 37, we know that 1669 is a prime number.

More About the Number 1669:

1669 is the sum of two squares:
38² + 15² = 1669.

1669 is the hypotenuse of a primitive Pythagorean triple:
1140-1219-1669, calculated from 2(38)(15), 38² – 15², 38² + 15².

Here’s another way we know that 1669 is a prime number: Since its last two digits divided by 4 leave a remainder of 1, and 38² + 15² = 1669 with 38 and 15 having no common prime factors, 1669 will be prime unless it is divisible by a prime number Pythagorean triple hypotenuse less than or equal to √1669. Since 1669 is not divisible by 5, 13, 17, 29, or 37, we know that 1669 is a prime number.

1656 Seven Ate Nine: Puzzle and a Picture Book

Today’s Puzzle:

Today’s Puzzle is a relatively easy level 6 puzzle with consecutive numbers 7, 8, and 9 prominent among the clues. Write the numbers 1 to 10 in both the 1st column and the top row so that those numbers and all the given clues work together to make a multiplication table. Will the common factor of 24 and 32 be 4 or 8? Will 20 and 12’s common factor be 2 or 4? Don’t guess! Look at the other clues. They all work together to help you find a logical way to solve the puzzle.

The Book Seven Ate Nine:

I ordered several books from my granddaughter’s book order. One of those books was Seven Ate Nine, a delightful tale whose characters are numbers and letters. The back cover summaries the story, “6 has a problem. Everyone knows that 7 is always after him. Word on the street is that 7 ate 9. If that’s true, 6’s days are numbered. Lucky for him, Private I is on the case. But the facts just don’t add up. It’s odd. Will Private I put two and two together and solve the problem . . . or is 6 next in line to be subtracted?”

My preschool grandchildren loved listening to this story. It is filled with math puns and surprising twists and turns. Other than familiarity with the concept of counting, mathematical understanding is not a prerequisite to following the story. Older kids and even adults will enjoy references to several mathematical concepts including odd, even, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, doubling, measurement, positives, negatives, and pi.

Factors of 1656:

  • 1656 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1656 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 23, which can be written 1656 = 2³ × 3² × 23.
  • 1656 has at least one exponent greater than 1 in its prime factorization so √1656 can be simplified. Taking the factor pair from the factor pair table below with the largest square number factor, we get √1656 = (√36)(√46) = 6√46.
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 3, 2, and 1. Adding one to each exponent and multiplying we get (3 + 1)(2 + 1)(1 + 1) = 4 × 3 × 2 = 24. Therefore 1656 has exactly 24 factors.
  • The factors of 1656 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

More About the Number 1656:

1656 is the difference of two squares SIX different ways:
415² – 413² = 1656,
209² – 205² = 1656,
141² – 135² = 1656,
75² – 63² = 1656,
55² – 37² = 1656, and
41² – 5² – = 1656.
That last one means we are only 25 numbers away from the next perfect square, 1681.

1645 and Level 6

Today’s Puzzle:

The number 36 appears as a clue in this puzzle three times. None of those 36’s will be 3 × 12 because 21 and 33 must use both 3’s. That means two of the 36’s will be 4 × 9, and one of them will be 6 × 6. Can both of the 36’s associated with the 24 be 4 × 9? Answering that question will help you find the logic needed to know which common factor to use for 72 and 36.

Factors of 1645:

  • 1645 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1645 = 5 × 7 × 47.
  • 1645 has no exponents greater than 1 in its prime factorization, so √1645 cannot be simplified.
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 1, 1, and 1. Adding one to each exponent and multiplying we get (1 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 2 × 2 × 2 = 8. Therefore 1645 has exactly 8 factors.
  • The factors of 1645 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

 

More About the Number 1645:

1645 is the hypotenuse of a Pythagorean triple:
987-1316-1645, which is (3-4-5) times 329.

1634 Be Prepared for April Showers

Today’s Puzzle:

If you learn the multiplication and division facts in a standard multiplication table, you will be prepared to solve this somewhat tricky April Shower puzzle. You will also be able to solve MANY other mathematical challenges. Use logic to solve it, not guess and check, and it will be much less challenging to find the missing factors.

Factors of 1634:

  • 1634 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1634 = 2 × 19 × 43.
  • 1634 has no exponents greater than 1 in its prime factorization, so √1634 cannot be simplified.
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 1, 1, and 1. Adding one to each exponent and multiplying we get (1 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 2 × 2 × 2 = 8. Therefore 1634 has exactly 8 factors.
  • The factors of 1634 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

More about the Number 1634:

1634 is part of exactly two Pythagorean triples. Here are the formulas you can use to calculate those two triples:
2(817)(1), 817² – 1², 817² + 1, and
2(43)(19), 43² – 19², 43² + 19².

Do you see the factors of 1634 prominently displayed in those formulas?

1610 Four-Leaf Clovers

Today’s Puzzle:

Sometimes four-leaf clovers are associated with Saint Patrick’s Day. Four-leaf clovers are supposed to be lucky, but you might not feel so lucky as you work on solving this puzzle. I assure you, there is a logical way to proceed on each step!

Print the puzzles or type the solution in this excel file: 14 Factors 1604-1612.

Factors of 1610:

  • 1610 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1610 = 2 × 5 × 7 × 23.
  • 1610 has no exponents greater than 1 in its prime factorization, so √1610 cannot be simplified.
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 1, 1, 1, and 1. Adding one to each exponent and multiplying we get (1 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16. Therefore 1610 has exactly 16 factors.
  • The factors of 1610 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

More about the Number 1610:

1610 is the hypotenuse of a Pythagorean triple:
966-1288-1610, which is (3-4-5) times 322.

1610 is not the sum of two squares or the difference of two squares. 1610 is a leg in some Pythagorean triples because
2(805)(1) = 1610,
2(161)(5) = 1610,
2(115)(7) = 1610, and
2(35)(23) = 1610.

You can calculate those Pythagorean triples by letting a be the first number in parenthesis for each of those equations, and b be the second number in parenthesis. Then substitute those values in the three expressions below, and you will have some Pythagorean triples!
2(a)(b), a² – b², a² + b².