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jmc

number theory intermediate

Problem

A palindrome is a number that reads the same forward and backward. How many three-digit perfect squares are palindromes?
Solution
The possible units digits of a perfect square are 0 (), 1 (, ), 4 (, ), 9 (, ), 6 (, ), and 5 (). Clearly, a three-digit perfect square with 0 as the units digit is not a palindrome because its hundreds digit cannot be 0. The only perfect square palindrome with 1 as the units digit is ; the only perfect square palindrome with 4 as the units digit is ; the only perfect square palindrome with 6 as the units digit is ; no perfect square palindrome has 9 or 5 as the units digit. Therefore, there are perfect squares that are palindromes.
Final answer
3