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A Mathematical Investigation
A Mathematical Investigation
Dr Amber Habib
Mathematical Sciences Foundation
St. Stephen’s College
Delhi 110007
I. Understanding the Problem
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Also:
2. Draw a figure.
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An Example
Examples: 1 → 1, 4 → 4, 9 → 9, 16 → 5, 25 → 7, 36 → 9,
49 → 13 → 4, 64 → 10 → 1, 81 → 9, 100 → 1
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A Conjecture
digit(n2) = 1, 4, 5, 7, or 9
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II. Devising a Plan
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5. Go back to definitions.
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Creating a Plan for our Conjecture
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A Fact
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One can start from various directions:
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The outlines of a plan are now taking form. Let’s run a couple
of examples (“specialize”):
Notice anything?
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The first example suggested the possibility that
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Assume that
| + ·{z
digit(mn) = digit(n · · + n})
m times
= digit(digit(n)
|
+ ·{z
· · + digit(n)})
m times
= digit(m digit(n))
= digit(digit(m) digit(n))
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Thus, assuming that
digit(n2) = digit(digit(n)2).
Now digit(n) is a single digit number, so to find the possi-
bilities for digit(n2) we merely have to run through the cases
n = 1, 2, . . . , 9. That we have already done! (Thus our plan
started by generalizing and ended by specializing.)
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III. Carrying Out The Plan
Did you find any steps that are not clear? That you think need
proof?
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Looking Back and Forward
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References
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