Say we try to find the closest square number to 26. we already know the closest square number is $25$. However, how do I calculate out 25?
Because, if I try to prime factorize it like so:
$\sqrt{26}$ = $\sqrt{2*13}$And I try to round 13 to the closest even number, I would get this equation here from prime factorization:
$\sqrt{26}$ = $\sqrt{2*13}$
-> $\sqrt{2*2*2*3}$
Then, if I write out the equation, it wouls turn up as:
$\sqrt{24}$ ,
Which is not 25.
I there a way to find out the closest square number to a certain number without using a calculator?