26 (number) facts for kids

Twenty-six is a cool number that you see all around! It comes right after twenty-five and just before twenty-seven. It is an even number, which means you can divide it by two without any remainder. You can also divide 26 by 1, 13, and 26 itself.

What Makes 26 Special?

The number 26 has some interesting features in mathematics. It is the only number that is one more than a square number (5x5=25) and one less than a cube number (3x3x3=27). This makes it quite unique!

Math Facts About 26

• It is the smallest number that is not a prime number but also not a semiprime number (a number made by multiplying two prime numbers).
• In geometry, a shape with 26 faces is called an icositetrahedron.
• If you add up the first five triangular numbers (1+3+6+10+15), you get 35, not 26. But 26 is related to other number patterns!

Where Do We See 26?

The number 26 pops up in many places in our daily lives, from the alphabet to sports and science.

In the Alphabet

Did you know there are 26 letters in the English alphabet? From A to Z, 26 letters help us write words, books, and messages every day.

In Sports

• In baseball, a team usually has 26 players on its active roster during the season.
• A full marathon race is about 26.2 miles long (or 42.195 kilometers). That's a lot of running!
• In American football, the number 26 is often worn by players like cornerbacks or safetys.

In Science and Nature

• The chemical element Iron has an atomic number of 26. Iron is a very important metal used in many things, from buildings to our own blood!
• The human body has 26 bones in each foot, including the ankle. That's a lot of bones to help you walk and run!
• Some types of dragonflys have 26 segments in their bodies.

Fun Facts About 26

• The United States celebrates Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. The earliest possible date for Thanksgiving is November 22, and the latest is November 28. This means there are 26 possible dates for Thanksgiving.
• In some cultures, the number 26 is considered lucky or special.
• There are 26 letters in the NATO phonetic alphabet, which is used by pilots and others to spell out words clearly. For example, "Alpha, Bravo, Charlie..."

Images for kids

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  Poster designed to depict the speciality of the number 26

See also

In Spanish: Veintiséis para niños