243 (number) facts for kids

243 (which you say as two hundred forty-three) is the natural number that comes right after 242 and just before 244. It's an interesting number with some cool math facts!

What is the Number 243?

The number 243 is a whole number that you use for counting. Like all numbers, it has unique properties that make it special in mathematics.

Basic Facts About 243

Let's look at some simple things about 243.

Odd or Even?

Numbers can be either odd or even. An even number can be divided by 2 without any remainder, like 4, 6, or 10. An odd number cannot be divided by 2 evenly, meaning there will always be a remainder of 1. Since 243 ends in a 3, it is an odd number.

Prime or Composite?

A prime number is a number greater than 1 that has only two factors: 1 and itself. Examples are 2, 3, 5, and 7. A composite number is a number that has more than two factors. For example, 4 is composite because its factors are 1, 2, and 4. The number 243 can be divided by numbers other than 1 and 243, such as 3, 9, 27, and 81. This means 243 is a composite number.

243 as a Power of Three

One of the most exciting things about 243 is how it relates to the number three.

What is a Power?

In math, when we talk about a "power" of a number, it means multiplying that number by itself a certain number of times. For example, "3 to the power of 2" (written as 3²) means 3 × 3 = 9. The small number written above (like the '2' in 3²) is called the exponent, and it tells you how many times to multiply the main number (called the base) by itself.

The Fifth Power of Three

The number 243 is special because it is the fifth power of three. This means if you multiply the number 3 by itself five times, you get 243.

• 3 × 3 = 9
• 9 × 3 = 27
• 27 × 3 = 81
• 81 × 3 = 243

So, 243 can be written as 3⁵.

Other Cool Math Facts About 243

Numbers often have many interesting properties.

Harshad Number

A Harshad number (also called a Niven number) is a number that can be divided by the sum of its own digits. Let's try this with 243:

• First, add its digits: 2 + 4 + 3 = 9.
• Next, divide 243 by 9: 243 ÷ 9 = 27.

Since 243 can be divided evenly by the sum of its digits (9), it is a Harshad number.

Deficient Number

To understand if a number is deficient, we look at its "proper divisors." These are all the numbers that divide into it evenly, except for the number itself. For 243, the proper divisors are 1, 3, 9, 27, and 81. Now, add these proper divisors together: 1 + 3 + 9 + 27 + 81 = 121. If the sum of the proper divisors is less than the original number, it's called a deficient number. Since 121 is less than 243, 243 is a deficient number.

Where Can We Find 243?

Numbers like 243 appear in many places, from math problems to real-world situations. While 243 might not be as common as some other numbers, understanding its properties helps us learn more about how numbers work.

See also

• Natural number
• Odd number
• Composite number
• Power (mathematics)

In Spanish: Doscientos cuarenta y tres para niños