Times Tables and Square Numbers (1)

Square numbers are, of course, the answers when whole numbers are multiplied by themselves.

For examples, if we multiply 5 x 5, the answer is 25, so 25 is a square number.

Some people like to think of square numbers in a diagram. We can imagine a square with 25 dots, 5 dots long and 5 dots wide. (That’s why they are called square numbers, of course).

                                                   

Can you write down all the square numbers up to 20 x 20? (if you don’t know them, you will have to work them out – without a calculator, naturally)? Here’s the first few to get you started:

0    1    4    9

When you have found them all up to 20 x 20 (f
urther if you want), take the differences between each pair and look at the pattern. What do you notice?

I have done a couple for you. (Don’t say I’m not helpful.)

                                                           

Once you have spotted the pattern in the differences, write down the next four differences. Use these to write down the next four square numbers.

Lastly, check to make sure these new numbers really are square numbers.

You can see how important times tables are. Don’t they come into an awful lot of mathematics?