phoenix64: parker holding an orange and smiling (casanova facepalm)
phoenix64 ([personal profile] phoenix64) wrote2008-08-27 04:49 pm
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Ways in which I am a dork, #823

For Happyfest II at [livejournal.com profile] bringthehappy there were 441 prompts. 441 is the square of one lucky prime times the square of another lucky prime. And in this case "lucky prime" not only refers to the specific mathematical term - they both happen to be numbers that are often considered to be lucky.

I have GOT to go back to school. Because I am NOT THIS SMART, I'm just BORED.

[identity profile] rustydog.livejournal.com 2008-08-28 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
My parents always told me it was because of a three-in-one god and that 7 was "God's number" - probably because it came up so much in the Bible, though on that reasoning I don't see why 12 wouldn't be lucky. That was also why 6 was supposed to be unlucky, because it was associated with the devil. So I suppose it just depends on people's personal idea of why a number is lucky!

In Chinese, numbers are lucky or unlucky based on the way they're pronounced and what other words that syllable sounds like. So four ("si") is similar to death ("si") and you should never give someone four of something as a wedding present!

[identity profile] donutsweeper.livejournal.com 2008-08-28 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
In Hebrew numbers are written out using letters (Aleph=A=1) so numbers sometimes spell out words. That's why 18 is so special because 18= chai= life. for years and years and years it was the defacto amount to give as a present for a bar/bat mitvah or wedding (now its usually 36 which is considered 'double chai, even though that's bogus)

so 3= god, the son, and the holy spirit and 7 = days of week and whatnot? I can see that

sooo... death isn't a good present. I'll have to remember that

[identity profile] rustydog.livejournal.com 2008-08-28 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
Ooh, I had heard there was a lot going on with numerology and Hebrew, but I didn't know anything specific. That's neat!

death isn't a good present. I'll have to remember that

Hee. Just if it's a Chinese family, I think. If we couldn't give 4 place settings as wedding gifts to most couples around here, we'd be quite at a loss!

[identity profile] donutsweeper.livejournal.com 2008-08-28 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
the weird thing is not all letters are used as numbers. You can get quite mystical and whatnot with it.

Go with service for 5. be a rebel

[identity profile] phoenix64.livejournal.com 2008-08-28 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
I knew a little about how that worked with Hebrew and numbers, but I actually probably learned the most watching the movie Pi. :D