MATH STINGER   #87      
by Dr. Joel C. Fowler    
Associate Professor of Mathematics    

 

 This issue's puzzle concerns the fact that the same sequence of digits can represent different numbers depending upon the base.  For example, 16 (base 7) is not the same as 16 (base 10).  Some properties of a representation do not depend upon the base.  For example, 100 is a perfect square no matter what base is assumed.  The puzzle for this issue is to find the shortest string, of length greater than one, involving the smallest non-zero digits that is a perfect square, no matter what base is assumed (as long as the base is larger than the largest digit in the string).

Stinger #86            Stinger #88                Math Stingers Main Page