Is 249 a perfect square? This question often arises when dealing with numbers and their properties. In this article, we will explore the concept of perfect squares and determine whether 249 fits the criteria.
A perfect square is a number that can be expressed as the square of an integer. In other words, it is the product of a number multiplied by itself. For example, 16 is a perfect square because it can be written as 4 multiplied by 4 (4 x 4 = 16). Similarly, 25 is a perfect square because it is the square of 5 (5 x 5 = 25).
To determine if 249 is a perfect square, we need to find an integer that, when squared, equals 249. One way to do this is by calculating the square root of 249. The square root of a number is the value that, when multiplied by itself, gives the original number. In this case, we want to find the square root of 249.
Using a calculator or a mathematical table, we find that the square root of 249 is approximately 15.81. Since the square root of 249 is not an integer, we can conclude that 249 is not a perfect square. The closest perfect squares to 249 are 225 (15 x 15) and 256 (16 x 16).
In conclusion, 249 is not a perfect square because it cannot be expressed as the square of an integer. Understanding the concept of perfect squares helps us identify numbers that have unique properties and can be useful in various mathematical applications.