Puzzles

1664 and Level 2

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Today’s Puzzle:

Write the numbers 1 to 12 in both the first column and the top row so that those numbers and the given clues function like a multiplication table.

Factor Cake for 1664:

We can make a factor cake for 1664 by doing some successive divisions. Divide 1664 by 2, divide that answer by 2, and so forth until you make a factor cake that looks like this:

Factors of 1664:

  • 1664 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1664 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 13, which can be written 1664 = 2⁷ × 13.
  • 1664 has at least one exponent greater than 1 in its prime factorization so √1664 can be simplified. Taking the factor pair from the factor pair table below with the largest square number factor, we get √1664 = (√64)(√26) = 8√26.
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 7 and 1. Adding one to each exponent and multiplying we get (7 + 1)(1 + 1) = 8 × 2 = 16. Therefore 1664 has exactly 16 factors.
  • The factors of 1664 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

More About the Number 1664:

1664 is the sum of two squares:
40² + 8² = 1664.
That happened because it has a prime factor that leaves a remainder of 1 when divided by 4 AND all of its other prime factors are powers of 2 or perfect squares:

But that’s not all that cool about 1664. What patterns do you notice below?
2(24² + 16²) = 1664,
4(20² + 4²) = 1664,
8(12² + 8²) = 1664,
16(10² + 2²) = 1664,
32(6² + 4²) = 1664,
64(5² + 1²) = 1664, and
128(3² + 2²) = 1664.

1664 is the hypotenuse of a Pythagorean triple:
640-1536-1664, calculated from 2(40)(8), 40² – 8², 40² + 8².
That triple is also (5-12-13) times 128.

1663 and Level 1

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Today’s Puzzle:

Write the numbers 1 to 12 in both the first column and the top row so that those numbers and the given clues function like a multiplication table.

Factors of 1663:

  • 1663 is a prime number.
  • Prime factorization: 1663 is prime.
  • 1663 has no exponents greater than 1 in its prime factorization, so √1663 cannot be simplified.
  • The exponent in the prime factorization is 1. Adding one to that exponent we get (1 + 1) = 2. Therefore 1663 has exactly 2 factors.
  • The factors of 1663 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

How do we know that 1663 is a prime number? If 1663 were not a prime number, then it would be divisible by at least one prime number less than or equal to √1663. Since 1663 cannot be divided evenly by 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, or 37, we know that 1663 is a prime number.

More About the Number 1663:

1663 is the sum of consecutive numbers in only one way:
831 + 832 = 1663.

1663 is the difference of two squares in only one way:
832² – 831² = 1663.

What do you notice about those two number facts?

1662 Declare Your Independence!

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Today’s Puzzle:

Tomorrow is Independence Day in the United States. Happy Independence Day! Wherever you live, you can have a different kind of independence day, and it can happen any day of the year:

Are you dependent on a calculator, Siri, or someone or something else to give you any of the products or divisors in a multiplication table? Solving these Find the Factors puzzles can help you be more familiar with the table and declare your independence from those outside sources! Use logic to help you find its unique solution. Yes, mystery-level puzzles can be tricky, but I’ll give you a hint under the puzzle if you need it.

The logic to get started: One column has 40, 50 and another column has 10, 60. There are only two numbers that can go at the top of either one of those columns: 5 and 10. We don’t know which column gets which number, however. But it is still enough to tell us that the other 5 and 10 must go in the first column with the 10 being a factor of 70 and the 5 being a factor of 50.

Factors of 1662:

Knowing some divisibility rules can also help you declare your independence!

1662 is even, so it is divisible by 2.
1 + 2 = 3, so 1662 is divisible by 3. (Why wasn’t it necessary to include the 6’s in that calculation?)
Since 1662 is divisible by both 2 and 3, it is divisible by 6, too.

  • 1662 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1662 = 2 × 3 × 277.
  • 1662 has no exponents greater than 1 in its prime factorization, so √1662 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 1662 has exactly 8 factors.
  • The factors of 1662 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

More About the Number 1662:

1662 is the hypotenuse of a Pythagorean triple:
690-1512-1662, which is 6 times (115-252-277).
Did you notice all the repeating digits in that triple?

 

1660 A 14×14 Mystery Puzzle

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Today’s Puzzle:

Adding a few more factors to the multiplication table really complicates this mystery-level puzzle. For example, will the common factor of 28 and 56 be 4, 7, or 14? If it were just a 10 × 10 or a 12 × 12 puzzle, answering that question would be easy. Not so with a 14 × 14 puzzle. Remember to use logic on every step while you find its unique solution.

You can print the puzzle or type the solution on this excel sheet: 10 Factors 1650-1660 with Taxman Scoring Calculator

Factors of 1660:

  • 1660 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1660 = 2 × 2 × 5 × 83, which can be written 1660 = 2² × 5 × 83.
  • 1660 has at least one exponent greater than 1 in its prime factorization so √1660 can be simplified. Taking the factor pair from the factor pair table below with the largest square number factor, we get √1660 = (√4)(√415) = 2√415.
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 2, 1, and 1. Adding one to each exponent and multiplying we get (2 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 3 × 2 × 2 = 12. Therefore 1660 has exactly 12 factors.
  • The factors of 1660 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

More About the Number 1660:

1660 is the hypotenuse of a Pythagorean triple:
996-1328-1660, which is (3-4-5) times 332.

 

 

1659 Another Mystery

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Today’s Puzzle:

Both 20, 10, 30 and 12, 24, 36 have two possible common factors that will only put numbers from 1 to 10 in the first column and the top row of this mystery level puzzle. However, the puzzle has only one solution. Examine all the clues in the puzzle and think logically to determine what those common factors must be.

Factors of 1659:

  • 1659 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1659 = 3 × 7 × 79.
  • 1659 has no exponents greater than 1 in its prime factorization, so √1659 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 1659 has exactly 8 factors.
  • The factors of 1659 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

More About the Number 1659:

1659 is the difference of two squares in FOUR different ways:
830² – 829² = 1659,
278² – 275² = 1659,
122² – 115² = 1659, and
50² – 29² = 1659.

1658 Mystery Puzzle

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Today’s Puzzle:

What’s the mystery?
Will the common factor of 30 and 20 be 5 or 10?
Will the common factor of 36 and 18 be 6 or 9?
Will the common factor of 60 and 30 be 6 or 10? and
Will the common factor of 8 and 16 be 2, 4, or 8?

Don’t guess which common factors to use! Look at all the clues. They work together to help you logically arrive at the puzzle’s unique solution.

Factors of 1658:

  • 1658 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1658 = 2 × 829.
  • 1658 has no exponents greater than 1 in its prime factorization, so √1658 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 1658 has exactly 4 factors.
  • The factors of 1658 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

More About the Number 1658:

1658 is the sum of two squares:
37² + 17² = 1658.

1658 is the hypotenuse of a Pythagorean triple:
1080-1258-1658, which is 2 times (540-629-829),
and can also be calculated from 37² – 17², 2(37)(17), 37² + 17².

1658 is also a leg in the Pythagorean triple
calculated from 2(829), 829² – 1², 829² + 1².

1656 Seven Ate Nine: Puzzle and a Picture Book

/ ivasallay / 2 Comments

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.

1655 and Level 5

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Today’s Puzzle:

Using logic, write all the numbers from 1 to 10 in both the first column and the top row of this puzzle so that those numbers are the factors of the given clues.

Factors of 1655:

  • 1655 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1655 = 5 × 331.
  • 1655 has no exponents greater than 1 in its prime factorization, so √1655 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 1655 has exactly 4 factors.
  • The factors of 1655 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

More About the Number 1655:

1655 is the hypotenuse of a Pythagorean triple:
993-1324-1655, which is (3-4-5) times 331.

1654 and Level 4

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Today’s Puzzle:

Use logic to write all the numbers 1 to 10 in both the first column and the top row of the puzzle so that those numbers are the factors of the given clues.

Factors of 1654:

  • 1654 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1654 = 2 × 827.
  • 1654 has no exponents greater than 1 in its prime factorization, so √1654 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 1654 has exactly 4 factors.
  • The factors of 1654 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

More About the Number 1654:

1654 is a leg in one Pythagorean triple:
1654-683928-683930, calculated from 2(827)(1), 827² – 1², 827² + 1².

1652 Start at the Top and Work Your Way Down to the Bottom

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Today’s Puzzle:

This is a level 3 puzzle so the clues are given in a logical order starting from the top of the puzzle. Begin by writing the factors of 20 and 32 in the appropriate cells. Then write the rest of the numbers so that both the first column and the top row have all the numbers from 1 to 10, and the written numbers are the factors of the given clues.

Factors of 1652:

  • 1652 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 1652 = 2 × 2 × 7 × 59, which can be written 1652 = 2² × 7 × 59.
  • 1652 has at least one exponent greater than 1 in its prime factorization so √1652 can be simplified. Taking the factor pair from the factor pair table below with the largest square number factor, we get √1652 = (√4)(√413) = 2√413.
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 2, 1, and 1. Adding one to each exponent and multiplying we get (2 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 3 × 2 × 2 = 12. Therefore 1652 has exactly 12 factors.
  • The factors of 1652 are outlined with their factor pair partners in the graphic below.

More About the Number 1652:

1652 is the difference of two squares two different ways:
414² – 412² = 1652 and
66² – 52² = 1652.