Art and Mathematics

THE SQUARE DANCE

There are eighteen number cards made. Half of them are given to boys and the
remaining to girls in a class.
Each boy has to find a girl partner to dance, so that the numbers they have, added
together will make a square number. A square number has two identical factors.

ia
2 x 2 = 4; 3 x 3 = 9; 4 x 4 = 16 . These numbers 4,9,16 are all square numbers.
No number should be left out.
No third person can join with the pair.

Ind
1 2 3 4

18 5

17 6

16
s 7
nd
15
8
14
9
Fu

13 12 11 10

Draw lines to show the pairings to make a square number in each case.
REFLECTIONS:
th

1. Were you able to make pairs on the

Ma

first attempt, without any number

being left out?
2. After how many attempts did you
succeed?
3. What is the strategy that you used
to make pairs?
SOLUTION:

THE SQUARE DANCE

ia
1 2 3 4

Ind
18 5

17 6

16 7
15

14
s 8
nd
9

13 12 11 10
Fu

1. Possible square numbers that can be formed as pairs are, 9, 16 and 25 only since the
biggest number is 18 and it can pair only with 7 to make a square number 25.
th
Ma