figurate number

English

Noun

figurate number (plural figurate numbers)

1. (mathematics, number theory) A number equal to the number of dots in a geometric figure formed of dots. The series begins with unity and is formed so that subtracting each from the following, and treating the series so formed in the same way, by a continuation of the process, yields equal differences.

Translations

number equal to the number of dots in a geometric figure formed of dots

See also

• gnomon

Further reading

• figurate number on Wikipedia.Wikipedia