Square number - GCSE Maths Definition

A square number is a (whole, positive) number resulting from multiplying a (whole) number by itself. Other ways of saying this would be to raise a number to the power 2; for example, 6² = 6 x 6 = 36, or simply 'squaring a number' - for example, "six squared is 36". Square numbers may also be referred to as 'perfect squares'. The sequence of square numbers is 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, ... which come from 1 x 1, 2 x 2, 3 x 3, 4 x 4, etc, enabling us to quickly determine any square number in the sequence; for example, the 15^th square number is 15 x 15 = 225. Square numbers have the property that they have an odd number of factors.

In GCSE Mathematics, recognising square numbers can help you to be quick and accurate with calculations, whilst being specifically useful for problems involving areas, solving equations and number patterns.