Pythagorean triples

738 Warning: These 3 right triangles do NOT form one large right triangle

/ ivasallay / 2 Comments
  • 738 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 738 = 2 x 3 x 3 x 41, which can be written 738 = 2 x 3² x 41
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 1, 2, and 1. Adding one to each and multiplying we get (1 + 1)(2 + 1)(1 + 1) = 2 x 3 x 2 = 12. Therefore 738 has exactly 12 factors.
  • Factors of 738: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18, 41, 82, 123, 246, 369, 738
  • Factor pairs: 738 = 1 x 738, 2 x 369, 3 x 246, 6 x 123, 9 x 82, or 18 x 41
  • Taking the factor pair with the largest square number factor, we get √738 = (√9)(√82) = 2√82 ≈ 27.166155.

738-factor-pairs

The puzzle below is NOT drawn to scale. Angles that are marked as right angles are 90 degrees, but any angle that looks like a 45 degree angle, isn’t 45 degrees. Lines that look parallel are NOT parallel. Shorter looking line segments may actually be longer than longer looking line segments. Most rules of geometry do not apply here: in fact non-adjacent triangles in the drawing might actually overlap.

No geometry is needed to solve this puzzle. All that is needed is the table of Pythagorean triples under the puzzle. The puzzle only uses triples in which each leg and each hypotenuse is less than 100 units long. The puzzle has only one solution.

Go ahead, give it a try!

738 Triple Puzzle

Print the puzzles or type the solution on this excel file: 12 Factors 2016-01-11

Sorted Triples

Some time ago I published a rather ambitious Pythagorean triple logic puzzle. I didn’t post the answers but invited anyone who desired to post some or all of the answers and to do so in the comments. As of today, no one has posted any answers. Perhaps that puzzle was too difficult. I decided to post a SIMPLER one today. Just follow the instructions above the puzzle.

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Now for some facts about the number 738:

Because 41 is one of its factors, 738 is the hypotenuse of Pythagorean triple 162-720-738. What is the greatest common factor of the three numbers in the triple? It’s the other number in the same factor pair as 41.

738 can be expressed as the sum of consecutive numbers four different ways:

  • 245 + 246 + 247 = 738; that’s 3 consecutive numbers.
  • 78 + 79 + 80 + 81 + 82 + 83 + 84 + 85 + 86 = 738; that’s 9 consecutive numbers.
  • 56 + 57 + 58 + 59 + 60 + 61 + 62 + 63 + 64 + 65 + 66 + 67 = 738; that’s 12 consecutive numbers.
  • 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 11 + 12 + 13 + 14 + 15 + 16 + 17 + 18 + 19 + 20 + 21 + 22 + 23 + 24 + 25 + 26 + 27 + 28 + 29 + 30 + 31 + 32 + 33 + 34 + 35 + 36 + 37 + 38; that’s 36 consecutive numbers.

738 is a palindrome in base 15 and base 16, two consecutive bases:

  • 343 BASE 15; note that 3(225) + 4(15) + 3(1) = 738.
  • 2E2 BASE 16 (E = 14 base 10); note that 2(256) + 14(16) + 2(1) = 738.

From OEIS.org I learned that 6 + 66 + 666 = 738. Cool! Six 6’s were used!

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725 and Level 2

/ ivasallay / 3 Comments
  • 725 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 725 = 5 x 5 x 29, which can be written 725 = (5^2) x 29
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 2 and 1. Adding one to each and multiplying we get (2 + 1)(1 + 1) = 3 x 2  = 6. Therefore 725 has exactly 6 factors.
  • Factors of 725: 1, 5, 25, 29, 145, 725
  • Factor pairs: 725 = 1 x 725, 5 x 145, or 25 x 29
  • Taking the factor pair with the largest square number factor, we get √725 = (√25)(√29) = 5√29 ≈ 26.925824.

Give this Level 2 puzzle a try!

725 Puzzle

Print the puzzles or type the solution on this excel file: 12 Factors 2015-12-28

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Perhaps, you would like to know some other facts about the number 725:

725 can be expressed as the sum of consecutive numbers five different ways:

  • 362 + 363 = 725; that’s 2 consecutive numbers.
  • 143 + 144 + 145 + 146 + 147 = 725; that’s 5 consecutive numbers.
  • 68 + 69 + 70 + 71 + 72 + 73 + 74 + 75 + 76 + 77 = 725; that’s 10 consecutive numbers.
  • 17 + 18 + 19 + . . . + 29 + . . . + 39 + 40 + 41 = 725; that’s 25 consecutive numbers.
  • 11 + 12 + 13 + . . . + 25 + . . . + 37 + 38 + 39 = 725; that’s 29 consecutive numbers.

725 is also the sum of the eleven prime numbers from 43 to 89.

The factors in one of its factor pairs, 25 x 29, are both 2 numbers away from their average, 27, so 725 is just 4 numbers away from perfect square 27² = 729 . Thus, 25 x 29 =  (27 – 2)(27 + 2) = 27² – 2² = 729 – 4 = 725.

725 is the sum of two squares three different ways:

  • 26² + 7² = 725
  • 25² + 10² = 725
  • 23² + 14² = 725

Because ALL of its prime factors have a remainder of one when divided by four, 725 is the hypotenuse of primitive Pythagorean triples:

  • 364-627-725 which was calculated using 2(26)(7), 26² – 7², 26² + 7²
  • 333-644-725 which was calculated using 23² – 14², 2(23)(14), 23² + 14²

It is also the hypotenuse of FIVE other Pythagorean triples.

  • 85-720-725
  • 120-715-725
  • 203-696-725
  • 435-580-725
  • 500-525-725

725 is a palindrome in two bases:

  • 505 BASE 12; note that 5(144) + 0(12) + 5(1) = 725.
  • PP BASE 28 (P = 25 base 10); note that 25(28) + 25(1) = 725.

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725 Factors

What Makes 689 Amazing?

/ ivasallay / 24 Comments

689 is an amazing number for several reasons. I decided to make graphics to illustrate many of those ways. (689’s factoring information is at the end of this post.)

689 is the sum of consecutive prime numbers 227, 229, and 233.

Also 689 is the sum of the primes from 83 to 109. Do you know what those 7 prime numbers are?

OEIS.org informs us that 689 is the smallest number that can be expressed as the sum of three different square numbers NINE ways. I decided to figure out what those nine ways are and make this first graphic to share with you:

689 Sum of 3 Different Squares

Note: 614 can also be expressed as the sum of 3 squares 9 different ways, but one of those ways is 17² + 17² + 6² = 614, and that duplicates 17² in the same sum.

689 is the same number when it is turned upside down. Numbers with that characteristic are called Strobogrammatic numbers.

689 Rotation

689 BASE 10 isn’t a palindrome, but 373 BASE 14 is; note that 3(196) + 7(14) + 3(1) = 689

Both of 689’s prime factors have a remainder of 1 when divided by 4, so they are hypotenuses of Pythagorean triples. That fact also means 689 can be expressed as the sum of two square numbers TWO different ways, and it makes 689 the hypotenuse of FOUR Pythagorean triples.  Can you tell by looking at the graphic which two are primitive and which two aren’t?

689 Pythagorean triples

689 is the sum of consecutive numbers three different ways:

  • 344 + 345 = 689; that’s 2 consecutive numbers.
  • 47 + 48 + 49 + 50 + 51 + 52 + 53 + 54 + 55 + 56 + 57 + 58 + 59 = 689; that’s 13 consecutive numbers.
  • 14 + 15 + 16 + 17 + 18 + 19 + 20 + 21 + 22 + 23 + 24 + 25 + 26 + 27 + 28 + 29 + 30 + 31 + 32 + 33 + 34 + 35 + 36 + 37 + 38 + 39 = 689; that’s 26 consecutive numbers.

Now you have a few reasons why 689 is an amazing number. 13 and 53 were part of some of those reasons so it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see 13 and 53 pop up in its factoring information, too:

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  • 689 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 689 = 13 x 53
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 1 and 1. Adding one to each and multiplying we get (1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 2 x 2 = 4. Therefore 689 has exactly 4 factors.
  • Factors of 689: 1, 13, 53, 689
  • Factor pairs: 689 = 1 x 689 or 13 x 53
  • 689 has no square factors that allow its square root to be simplified. √689 ≈ 26.248809.

685 Is the Sum of Two Squares Two Different Ways

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Because both of its prime factors are hypotenuses of primitive Pythagorean triples, 685 is the hypotenuse of FOUR Pythagorean triples. Two are primitive; two are not:

  • 37-684-685 which was calculated from 19² – 18², 2(19)(18), 19² + 18²
  • 156-667-685 which was calculated from 2(26)(3), 26² – 3², 26² + 3²
  • 411-548-685 (What factor of 685 is the greatest common factor of those 3 numbers?)
  • 440-525-685 (and what is their greatest common factor?)

As you may have notice from those calculations, 685 is the sum of two squares two different ways:

  • 19² + 18² = 685
  • 26² + 3² = 685

685 is the 19th centered square number because 18 and 19 are consecutive numbers and 19² + 18² = 685. There are 685 small squares of various colors in this graphic.

685 is the 19th Centered Squared Number

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  • 685 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 685 = 5 x 137
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 1 and 1. Adding one to each and multiplying we get (1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 2 x 2 = 4. Therefore 685 has exactly 4 factors.
  • Factors of 685: 1, 5, 137, 685
  • Factor pairs: 685 = 1 x 685 or 5 x 137
  • 685 has no square factors that allow its square root to be simplified. √685 ≈ 26.172505.

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674 and Level 1

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674 is the hypotenuse of the Pythagorean triple 350-576-674. What is the greatest common factor of those three numbers?

674 is a leg in exactly one Pythagorean triple: 674-113568-113570, and those three numbers have the exact same greatest common factor as the triple above.

674 Puzzle

Print the puzzles or type the solution on this excel file: 10 Factors 2015-11-09

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  • 674 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 674 = 2 x 337
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 1 and 1. Adding one to each and multiplying we get (1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 2 x 2 = 4. Therefore 674 has exactly 4 factors.
  • Factors of 674: 1, 2, 337, 674
  • Factor pairs: 674 = 1 x 674 or 2 x 337
  • 674 has no square factors that allow its square root to be simplified. √674 ≈ 25.96151.

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674 Factors

663 Peanut Butter Kiss Puzzle

/ ivasallay / Leave a comment

It’s easy to see that 663 is divisible by three.

That may not be very interesting at all, but…..

Because 13 and 17, 663’s other two prime factors, have a remainder of one when each is divided by four, 663 is the hypotenuse of FOUR Pythagorean triples. Can you find the greatest common factor of each triple?

  • 420-513-663
  • 63-660-663
  • 255-612-663
  • 312-585-663

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Art is not one of my strongest skills, but here is my attempt to make a puzzle that looks like a peanut butter kiss, a traditional Halloween candy:

663 Puzzle Peanut Butter Kisses

Color can be inviting, but it can also be distracting. Here is the same puzzle without the added color:

663 Puzzle

Print the puzzles or type the solution on this excel file: 10 Factors 2015-10-26

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  • 663 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 663 = 3 x 13 x 17
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 1, 1, and 1. Adding one to each and multiplying we get (1 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 2 x 2 x 2 = 8. Therefore 663 has exactly 8 factors.
  • Factors of 663: 1, 3, 13, 17, 39, 51, 221, 663
  • Factor pairs: 663 = 1 x 663, 3 x 221, 13 x 51, or 17 x 39
  • 663 has no square factors that allow its square root to be simplified. √663 ≈ 25.748786.

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663 Logic

Thank you for sharing the solution, Ricardo, and happy Halloween:

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629 and Level 1

/ ivasallay / Leave a comment

629 is the sum of the 17 prime numbers from 7 to 71. Both of its prime factors, 17 and 37, are included in that list.

17 and 37 are both 10 numbers away from their average, 27. That means that 629 + 10² = 729 or 27².

25² + 2² = 629 and 23² + 10² = 629. Notice that 629 plus or minus 100 is a square number.

Both of 629’s prime factors have a remainder of one when divided by four so 629 is the hypotenuse of four Pythagorean triples, two of which are primitives.

  • 100-621-629, a primitive that reminds me of another primitive, 20-21-29
  • 204-595-629, three numbers whose greatest common factor is 17
  • 296-555-629, three numbers whose greatest common factor is 37
  • 429-460-629, a primitive whose shorter leg is exactly 200 less than its hypotenuse.

629 Puzzle

Print the puzzles or type the solution on this excel file: 10 Factors 2015-09-28

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  • 629 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 629 = 17 x 37
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 1 and 1. Adding one to each and multiplying we get (1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 2 x 2 = 4. Therefore 629 has exactly 4 factors.
  • Factors of 629: 1, 17, 37, 629
  • Factor pairs: 629 = 1 x 629 or 17 x 37
  • 629 has no square factors that allow its square root to be simplified. √629 ≈ 25.079872.

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629 Factors

595 and Level 3

/ ivasallay / Leave a comment

595 = (34/2)(34 + 1) so 595 is the 34th triangular number.

Thus 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + . . . . . + 31 + 32 + 33 + 34 = 595

595 is also the hypotenuse of four Pythagorean triples. Each of these triples has its own greatest common factor.

  • 91-588-595
  • 252-539-595
  • 280-525-595
  • 357-476-595

595 Puzzle

Print the puzzles or type the solution on this excel file: 12 Factors 2015-08-24

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  • 595 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 595 = 5 x 7 x 17
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 1, 1, and 1. Adding one to each and multiplying we get (1 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 2 x 2 x 2 = 8. Therefore 595 has exactly 8 factors.
  • Factors of 595: 1, 5, 7, 17, 35, 85, 119, 595
  • Factor pairs: 595 = 1 x 595, 5 x 119, 7 x 85, or 17 x 35
  • 595 has no square factors that allow its square root to be simplified. √595 ≈ 24.39262.

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A Logical Approach to solve a FIND THE FACTORS puzzle: Find the column or row with two clues and find their common factor. Write the corresponding factors in the factor column (1st column) and factor row (top row).  Because this is a level three puzzle, you have now written a factor at the top of the factor column. Continue to work from the top of the factor column to the bottom, finding factors and filling in the factor column and the factor row one cell at a time as you go.

595 Factors

 

565 and Level 1

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565 is the sum of consecutive primes: 181 + 191 + 193 = 565.

565 is the sum of two squares two different ways: 565 = (22^2) + (9^2), and 565 = (23^2) + (6^2).

565 is the hypotenuse of four Pythagorean triples. The greatest common factor of two of them is 1 because they are primitives. Which of these triples are not primitive, and what is the greatest common factor of each of them?

  • 75-560-565
  • 276-493-565
  • 339-452-565
  • 396-403-565

565 Puzzle

Print the puzzles or type the solution on this excel file: 12 Factors 2015-07-27

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  • 565 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 565 = 5 x 113
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 1 and 1. Adding one to each and multiplying we get (1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 2 x 2 = 4. Therefore 565 has exactly 4 factors.
  • Factors of 565: 1, 5, 113, 565
  • Factor pairs: 565 = 1 x 565 or 5 x 113
  • 565 has no square factors that allow its square root to be simplified. √565 ≈ 23.7697

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565 Factors

545 and Level 2

/ ivasallay / 3 Comments

The first few centered square numbers are 1, 5, 13, 25, 41, and 61. Starting in the center of this multi-colored square, can you locate each of those centered square numbers? 545 is the 17th centered square number. This wikipedia link explains the relationship between centered square numbers and the more familiar square numbers like 1, 4, 9, 16, 25 and 36. It also explains that every centered square number except 1 is the hypotenuse of a Pythagorean triple.

545 is the 17th Centered Square Number

If you have difficulty seeing those first few centered square numbers, perhaps this will help:

1, 5, 13, 25, 41, 61 Centered Squares

545 is a centered square number because 16 and 17 are consecutive numbers and (16^2) + (17^2) = 545.

It is probably less exciting that (23^2) + (4^2) = 545.

545 is the hypotenuse of four Pythagorean triples. Which of these triples are primitives and which of them aren’t? The ones with greatest common factors greater than one are not primitive:

  • 33-544-545
  • 184-513-545
  • 300-455-545
  • 327-436-545

545 Puzzle

Print the puzzles or type the solution on this excel file: 10 Factors 2015-07-06

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  • 545 is a composite number.
  • Prime factorization: 545 = 5 x 109
  • The exponents in the prime factorization are 1 and 1. Adding one to each and multiplying we get (1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 2 x 2 = 4. Therefore 545 has exactly 4 factors.
  • Factors of 545: 1, 5, 109, 545
  • Factor pairs: 545 = 1 x 545 or 5 x 109
  • 545 has no square factors that allow its square root to be simplified. √545 ≈ 23.345235

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545 Factors