42 (number) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This article is about the number 42. For the year, see 42.

Quick facts for kids

42

← 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 →

← 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 →

forty-two

Ordinal

42nd
(forty-second)

2 × 3 × 7

ΜΒ´

XLII

101010₂

1120₃

Senary

110₆

52₈

36₁₂

2A₁₆

Forty-two is a number. It comes between forty-one and forty-three, and is an even number. It is divisible by 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21, and 42.

42 is an extremely interesting number to mathematicians, because of its many features. For example:

It is the product of two consecutive integers (6 and 7), making it a pronic number.
It is the second sphenic number, the product of three distinct prime numbers.
It is an abundant number, the sum of its proper divisors is greater than the number itself.

There are at least a dozen more features of interest to number theory enthusiasts.

Appearance in literature

"42" is the "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything" in Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books.

The number makes regular appearances in Lewis Carroll's writings, such as in The Hunting of the Snark. Rule Forty-two in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is "All persons more than a mile high to leave the court". Charles Dodgson was a mathematician.

Images for kids

The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything
Jackie Robinson in his now-retired number 42 jersey

See also

In Spanish: Cuarenta y dos para niños

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42 (number) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.