144 (number) facts for kids

The number 144 is a natural number, which means it's one of the numbers we use for counting, like 1, 2, 3, and so on. It comes right after 143 and just before 145. What makes 144 special is that it's the only even square number that is also a Fibonacci number.

What Makes 144 Special?

The number 144 has some interesting mathematical properties. It's known for being a square number, a Fibonacci number, and an abundant number. Let's explore what these terms mean.

144 as a Square Number

A square number is a number you get by multiplying an integer (a whole number) by itself. For example, 9 is a square number because it's 3 multiplied by 3 (3 x 3 = 9). The number 144 is the square of 12. This means if you multiply 12 by 12, you get 144.

• 12 x 12 = 144

144 and Fibonacci Numbers

The Fibonacci sequence is a famous pattern of numbers where each number is the sum of the two numbers before it. It starts like this: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, and so on.

• The first two numbers are 0 and 1.
• The third number is 0 + 1 = 1.
• The fourth number is 1 + 1 = 2.
• The fifth number is 1 + 2 = 3.
• This pattern continues.

You can see that 144 appears in this sequence. It's also an even number, and it's the only even square number that is part of the Fibonacci sequence.

What is an Abundant Number?

An abundant number is a number where the sum of its "proper divisors" is greater than the number itself. Proper divisors are all the numbers that divide evenly into a number, except for the number itself. Let's look at the proper divisors of 144:

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 16, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72

Now, if we add all these divisors together:

• 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 9 + 12 + 16 + 18 + 24 + 36 + 48 + 72 = 259

Since 259 is greater than 144, the number 144 is an abundant number.