figurate number

A number sequence found by creating consecutive geometrical figures from arrangements of equally spaced points. Here is an example:

1	3	5	7
*	*	*	*
	**	*	*
		*******	*
			********

The points can be arranged in one, two, three, or more dimensions. There are many different kinds of figurate numbers, such as polygonal numbers and tetrahedral numbers.

Related category

• TYPES OF NUMBERS

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