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  1. Math

    Sequence Puzzles

    Given a sequence consisting of the whole numbers 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, and 49, what number comes next in the sequence? The most likely answer is 64–the next number in a sequence of squares of consecutive integers, starting with 1. Such sequence puzzles are a staple of textbook exercises, brainteaser collections, and various […]

    By Ivars Peterson
  2. Math

    Coins for Making Change Efficiently

    The item I had just bought cost 29 cents. I gave the cashier a dollar bill, and she gave me two quarters, two dimes, and a penny in change. She could just as well have given me seven dimes and a penny or some other combination of coins adding up to 71 cents, but there’s […]

    By Ivars Peterson

  3. 19320

    This article could have been a little less disingenuous.