Question

By what number should each of the following numbers be multiplied to get a perfect square in each case? Also, find the number whose square is the new number.
(i) 8820
(ii) 3675
(iii) 605
(iv) 2880
(v) 4056
(vi) 3468
(vii) 7776

Answer 1

Factorising each number.

(i) 8820 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 5 x 7 x 7

Grouping them into pairs of equal factors:
8820 = (2 x 2) x (3 x 3) x (7 x 7) x 5
The factor, 5 is not paired. For a number to be a perfect square, each prime factor has to be paired. Hence, 8820 must be multiplied by 5 for it to be a perfect square.
The new number would be (2 x 2) x (3 x 3) x (7 x 7) x (5 x 5).
Furthermore, we have:
(2 x 2) x (3 x 3) x (7 x 7) x (5 x 5) = (2 x 3 x 5 x 7) x (2 x 3 x 5 x 7)
Hence, the number whose square is the new number is:
2 x 3 x 5 x 7 = 210

(ii) 3675 = 3 x 5 x 5 x 7 x 7

Grouping them into pairs of equal factors:
3675 = (5 x 5) x (7 x 7) x 3
The factor, 3 is not paired. For a number to be a perfect square, each prime factor has to be paired. Hence, 3675 must be multiplied by 3 for it to be a perfect square.
The new number would be (5 x 5) x (7 x 7) x (3 x 3).
Furthermore, we have:
(5 x 5) x (7 x 7) x (3 x 3) = (3 x 5 x 7) x (3 x 5 x 7)
Hence, the number whose square is the new number is:
3 x 5 x 7 = 105

(iii) 605 = 5 x 11 x 11


Grouping them into pairs of equal factors:
605 = 5 x (11 x 11)
The factor, 5 is not paired. For a number to be a perfect square, each prime factor has to be paired. Hence, 605 must be multiplied by 5 for it to be a perfect square.
The new number would be (5 x 5) x (11 x 11).
Furthermore, we have:
(5 x 5) x (11 x 11) = (5 x 11) x (5 x 11)
Hence, the number whose square is the new number is:
5 x 11 = 55

(iv) 2880 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 5


Grouping them into pairs of equal factors:
2880 = (2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (3 x 3) x 5
There is a 5 as the leftover. For a number to be a perfect square, each prime factor has to be paired. Hence, 2880 must be multiplied by 5 to be a perfect square.
The new number would be (2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (3 x 3) x (5 x 5).
Furthermore, we have:
(2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (3 x 3) x (5 x 5) = (2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5) x (2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5)
Hence, the number whose square is the new number is:
2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 = 120

(v) 4056 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 13 x 13


Grouping them into pairs of equal factors:
4056 = (2 x 2) x (13 x 13) x 2 x 3
The factors at the end, 2 and 3 are not paired. For a number to be a perfect square, each prime factor has to be paired. Hence, 4056 must be multiplied by 6 (2 x 3) for it to be a perfect square.
The new number would be (2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (3 x 3) x (13 x 13).
Furthermore, we have:
(2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (3 x 3) x (13 x 13) = (2 x 2 x 3 x 13) x (2 x 2 x 3 x 13)
Hence, the number whose square is the new number is:
2 x 2 x 3 x 13 = 156

(vi) 3468 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 17 x 17


Grouping them into pairs of equal factors:
3468 = (2 x 2) x (17 x 17) x 3
The factor 3 is not paired. For a number to be a perfect square, each prime factor has to be paired. Hence, 3468 must be multiplied by 3 for it to be a perfect square.
The new number would be (2 x 2) x (17 x 17) x (3 x 3).
Furthermore, we have:
(2 x 2) x (17 x 17) x (3 x 3) = (2 x 3 x 17) x (2 x 3 x 17)
Hence, the number whose square is the new number is:
2 x 3 x 17 = 102

(vii) 7776 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3


Grouping them into pairs of equal factors:
7776 = (2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (3 x 3) x (3 x 3) x 2 x 3
The factors, 2 and 3 at the end are not paired. For a number to be a perfect square, each prime factor has to be paired. Hence, 7776 must be multiplied by 6 (2 x 3) for it to be a perfect square.
The new number would be (2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (3 x 3) x (3 x 3) x (3 x 3).
Furthermore, we have:
(2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (3 x 3) x (3 x 3) x (3 x 3) = (2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3) x (2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3)
Hence, the number whose square is the new number is:
2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 = 216