Answer: 52=25 and 252=225.
Proof. Since a perfect square cannot have its last digit 2, N must be of the form:
N=22…225=22…200+25=100⋅2⋅11…1+25=100⋅2⋅910n−1−1+25,
where the digit 2 there exists n times, n≥1.
Working mod 10, then N=(10k+v)2, 0≤v<10, where k is a positive integer, we can see that only in the case N=(10k+5)2 results a positive integer leading to 25. Then we have
100⋅2⋅910n−1−1+25=(10k+5)2,(1)
or equivalently
9k2+9k−2(10n−1−1)=0.(2)
Since k is a positive integer, the discriminant of the equation (2) must be perfect square, that is Δ=9(8⋅10n−1+1) must be perfect square. Thus we must have
8⋅10n−1+1=x2,
for some odd integer x>1. If x=2m+1, m≥1, then:
8⋅10n−1=x2−1=(x−1)(x+1)=4m(m+1)⇒
2n⋅5n−1=m(m+1),(3)
with (m,m+1)=1. We distinguish cases with respect to n:
* If n=1, then m=1, k=0 and N=25.
* If n=2, then m=4, k=1 and N=225.
* If n≥3, since 5n−1>4n−1=22n−2>2n,
from equation (3) we get:
2n=m and 5n−1=m+1,
and so m=5n−1−1=4⋅(5n−2+⋯+1)>4⋅4n−2=4n−1>2n=m, absurd.