There are 37 NRICH Mathematical resources connected to Square numbers, you may find related items under Properties of numbers.
Broad Topics > Properties of numbers > Square numbers
Are these statements always true, sometimes true or never true?
Sets of integers like 3, 4, 5 are called Pythagorean Triples, because they could be the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle. Can you find any more?
Each light in this interactivity turns on according to a rule. What happens when you enter different numbers? Can you find the smallest number that lights up all four lights?
Can you arrange the numbers 1 to 17 in a row so that each adjacent pair adds up to a square number?
Imagine a pyramid which is built in square layers of small cubes. If we number the cubes from the top, starting with 1, can you picture which cubes are directly below this first cube?
Using your knowledge of the properties of numbers, can you fill all the squares on the board?
One block is needed to make an up-and-down staircase, with one step up and one step down. How many blocks would be needed to build an up-and-down staircase with 5 steps up and 5 steps down?
Think of a number, square it and subtract your starting number. Is the number you're left with odd or even? How do the images help to explain this?
Square numbers can be represented as the sum of consecutive odd numbers. What is the sum of 1 + 3 + ..... + 149 + 151 + 153?
Can you make a cycle of pairs that add to make a square number using all the numbers in the box below, once and once only?
Can you make square numbers by adding two prime numbers together?
Mrs Morgan, the class's teacher, pinned numbers onto the backs of three children. Use the information to find out what the three numbers were.
The discs for this game are kept in a flat square box with a square hole for each. Use the information to find out how many discs of each colour there are in the box.
Take a triangular number, multiply it by 8 and add 1. What is special about your answer? Can you prove it?
The diagram illustrates the formula: 1 + 3 + 5 + ... + (2n - 1) = n² Use the diagram to show that any odd number is the difference of two squares.
Cut differently-sized square corners from a square piece of paper to make boxes without lids. Do they all have the same volume?
This activity creates an opportunity to explore all kinds of number-related patterns.
Can you find some Pythagorean Triples where the two smaller numbers differ by 1?
Robert noticed some interesting patterns when he highlighted square numbers in a spreadsheet. Can you prove that the patterns will continue?
Imagine a machine with four coloured lights which respond to different rules. Can you find the smallest possible number which will make all four colours light up?
Discover a way to sum square numbers by building cuboids from small cubes. Can you picture how the sequence will grow?
Use cubes to continue making the numbers from 7 to 20. Are they sticks, rectangles or squares?
Can you find a rule which relates triangular numbers to square numbers?
Mr Smith and Mr Jones are two maths teachers. By asking questions, the answers to which may be right or wrong, Mr Jones is able to find the number of the house Mr Smith lives in... Or not!
Complete the magic square using the numbers 1 to 25 once each. Each row, column and diagonal adds up to 65.
Does a graph of the triangular numbers cross a graph of the six times table? If so, where? Will a graph of the square numbers cross the times table too?
Add the sum of the squares of four numbers between 10 and 20 to the sum of the squares of three numbers less than 6 to make the square of another, larger, number.
In 1871 a mathematician called Augustus De Morgan died. De Morgan made a puzzling statement about his age. Can you discover which year De Morgan was born in?
Find another number that is one short of a square number and when you double it and add 1, the result is also a square number.
Can you use this information to work out Charlie's house number?
Show that 8778, 10296 and 13530 are three triangular numbers and that they form a Pythagorean triple.
What is the value of the digit A in the sum below: [3(230 + A)]^2 = 49280A
How many four digit square numbers are composed of even numerals? What four digit square numbers can be reversed and become the square of another number?
A woman was born in a year that was a square number, lived a square number of years and died in a year that was also a square number. When was she born?
Look at the squares in this problem. What does the next square look like? I draw a square with 81 little squares inside it. How long and how wide is my square?
These squares have been made from Cuisenaire rods. Can you describe the pattern? What would the next square look like?