Armstrong Numbers

An Armstrong number is an n-digit number that is equal to the sum of the n^th powers of its digits. In this lesson, students will explore Armstrong numbers, identify all Armstrong numbers less than 1000, and investigate a recursive sequence that uses a similar process. Throughout the lesson, students will use spreadsheets or other technology.

Explain to students that they will be implementing the following process for several numbers:

1. Raise each digit to a power equal to the number of digits in the number. For instance, each digit of a four‑digit number would be raised to the fourth power; each digit of a five‑digit number would be raised to the fifth power; and so on.
2. Add the results.

Demonstrate this process for 123—because 123 is a three-digit number, raise each digit to the third power, and add: 1³ + 2³ + 3³ = 36. If necessary, show other examples. Then, have students implement the process for the following numbers:

6

23

99

231

1634

11,111

Students are likely to notice that two numbers from this list—6 and 1634—return their original value when this process is applied; that is, 6¹ = 6, and 1⁴ + 6⁴ + 3⁴ + 4⁴ = 1634.

Inform students that numbers which return their original value are known as Armstrong numbers. Once you are certain that all students understand this idea, allow them to work in pairs to create a succinct definition of Armstrong numbers. After a few minutes, have each group share their definition with another pair, and then allow the class to vote on which definition is most lucid and precise. For comparison, share the following formal definition:

Armstrong number: An n-digit number equal to the sum of the n^th powers of its digits.

 

Finding Armstrong Numbers

In examining the numbers above, students found that 6 and 1634 were Armstrong numbers. Now ask them to determine all Armstrong numbers less than 1000.

There are several strategies that students could employ to solve this problem. Allow students some time to come up with a strategy on their own. If students are stuck, suggest one of the following:

• Using a list of numbers 1‑999, students can eliminate any non‑Armstrong numbers. (Many numbers can be eliminated from this list by inspection. For instance, any number ending in two 0’s, such as 100, 200, 300, …, can be eliminated, because the cube of the hundreds digit will not end in two 0’s.) While this method can produce valid results, it is susceptible to human error, and it may take a long time.
• Using a programmable calculator or a computer, write a program to generate and test all numbers 1‑999. (Such a program could generate the numbers by repeating a loop of the form "For n = 0 to 9" three times.)
• Using a spreadsheet, parse each number 1‑999 into its three digits, and then calculate the sum of the powers. The spreadsheet Armstrong-Students.xls can be given to kids as a starting point for their investigation; students will need to enter formulas to find the units digit in column D and the sum of the cubes in column E. Alternatively, you may choose to have students begin with a blank spreadsheet and discern a formula for parsing the hundreds and tens digits, too. The file Armstrong-Teacher.xls shows one possibility for creating formulas and testing numbers.

As it turns out, there are nine single-digit Armstrong numbers, namely 1‑9; there are no two-digit Armstrong numbers; and there are four three-digit Armstrong numbers: 153, 370, 371, and 407.

 

Strong Arm Iteration

The investigation of three-digit Armstrong numbers is conducted by adding the cubes of the digits. This process of cubing the digits can be continually repeated on the result to reveal some interesting patterns.

The process of Strong Arm Iteration works as follows:

1. Begin with an n-digit number.
2. Raise each digit to the n^th power, and compute the sum.
3. Raise each digit of the result to the n^th power, and compute the sum.
4. Repeat Step 3 until a pattern emerges.

For instance, take the number 123. Cube its digits and add them: 1³ + 2³ + 3³ = 36. Now, take the digits of the result, cube them, and add: 3³ + 6³ = 243. Continue by cubing the digits and adding for each result:

243: 2³ + 4³ + 3³ = 99
99: 9³ + 9³ = 1458
1458: 1³ + 4³ + 5³ + 8³ = 702
702: 7³ + 0³ + 2³ = 351
351: 3³ + 5³ + 1³ = 153
153: 1³ + 5³ + 3³ = 153

Notice that the process eventually leads to 153, which gives itself when the process is continued.

Allow students to explore other three-digit numbers. As before, you may ask them to construct a computer program or spreadsheet on their own to investigate this problem; or, you might supply them with the file Armstrong-Iteration.xls to use for investigation.

To guide this investigation, you may wish to distribute the Strong Arm activity sheet to your students.

Strong Arm Activity Sheet

In particular, ask them to consider the following questions:

1. If you begin with 123, the sequence reaches 153, and then it begins to repeat. That is, 1³ + 5³ + 3³ = 153. What other three‑digit numbers will eventually reach 153 and begin to repeat? Is there a pattern to the numbers that reach 153?

   [There are many numbers that reach 153 and then repeat; some of the numbers are 135, 213, 369, 423, 546, 678, 775, 819, and 972. In fact, all multiples of 3 eventually reach 153.]

2. Other than 153, what other numbers are reached when this process is applied?

   [The other three‑digit Armstong numbers are occasionally reached. For instance, 124 eventually leads to 370; 551 leads to 371; and 740 leads to 407.]

3. What other interesting things did you notice during this investigation? If possible, explain why these interesting things happened.

   [Several numbers lead to a cycle of repetition rather than to an Armstrong number. For instance, 136 leads to 244 which leads back to 136, and this two‑number cycle repeats. Cycles of three numbers also occur.]

This lesson prepared by G. Patrick Vennebush.