While enjoying this surprisingly fine summer, the math tutor recalls a definition.

When I was a kid, I read in one of my math texts (it might have been grade six) that a “perfect number” is one whose factors (except itself, of course) sum to it.

Example:  6 is a perfect number.

Factors of 6:    1, 2, 3, 6

Sum of factors (excluding 6 itself):  1+2+3=6

Example:  28 is a perfect number.

Factors of 28:   1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 28

Sum of factors (excluding 28 itself):   1+2+4+7+14=28

I always thought it was an interesting definition.  Curiosities like this are great; they keep you thinking about math when you don’t have to do any:)

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.