Definition:Figurate Number
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Definition
A figurate number is loosely defined as a (natural) number corresponding to a set of objects which can be arranged in a geometric pattern (in an arbitrary number of dimensions, but usually $2$ or $3$).
Also see
- Results about figurate numbers can be found here.
Historical Note
Figurate numbers, that is:
and so on, were classified and investigated by the Pythagorean school in the $6$th century BCE. This was possibly the first time this had ever been done.
Sources
- 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $-1$ and $i$
- 1989: Ephraim J. Borowski and Jonathan M. Borwein: Dictionary of Mathematics ... (previous) ... (next): figurate numbers
- 1992: George F. Simmons: Calculus Gems ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {A}.2$: Pythagoras (ca. $\text {580}$ – $\text {500}$ B.C.)
- 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $-1$ and $i$
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): figurate number
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): figurate number
- 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): figurate number