Friday, September 19, 2008

529

529 = 232. It is a perfect square.

529 is the 32rd lazy caterer number: the maximum number of pieces in which it is possible to divide a circle (pancake or pizza) for 32 cuts.

The concatenation of the consecutive numbers 528 and 529 forms a square number: 528529 = 7272.

Pancake cut into seven pieces with three straight cuts.

When it comes to genuine computation, however, to seeing a self-important number like 529 and panicking when you divide it into 2,200, or realizing that, hey, it's the square of 23! well, that calls for a very different number system, one that is specific, symbolic and highly abstract.—Natalie Angier, New York Times, Sept. 15, 2008.

Section 529 of the IRS tax code organizes 529 plans to encourage saving for higher education.

1 comment:

  1. 529 is the smallest perfect square that begins with a "5".

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