Forty-seven

Forty-seven (47) is a natural number following 46 and preceding 48. It is an odd number and a prime number, meaning it has no divisors other than 1 and itself. The number 47 has significance in various scientific and cultural contexts.

Mathematics

In the realm of mathematics, 47 is recognized as the fifteenth prime number. It is also a safe prime, a type of prime number that is one more than twice another prime number. Additionally, 47 is a Lucas number, coming after 29 and before 76 in the sequence. Lucas numbers are similar to Fibonacci numbers, both of which are integral to the study of mathematics and its application in understanding natural phenomena.

47 is also considered an Eisenstein prime with no imaginary part and a real part of the form \(3n - 1\). Eisenstein primes are a subset of complex numbers that are prime in the ring of Eisenstein integers.

Science

In science, the atomic number 47 corresponds to silver, a chemical element with the symbol Ag. Silver is a precious metal known for its conductivity, malleability, and reflectivity, making it valuable in jewelry, electronics, and solar panels.

Culture

The number 47 has appeared in various cultural references and conspiracy theories. One notable example is the 47 Society, which claims that there is a cosmic significance to the number 47. This society points to various occurrences of the number in history, science, and popular culture as evidence of its importance.

In Popular Culture

The number 47 has been featured in numerous works of fiction and popular media. For example, it is frequently used in the Star Trek franchise, where it appears in various episodes and movies as an in-joke among the production crew. The tradition of including 47 in Star Trek began with writer Joe Menosky, who attended Pomona College, where there is a running joke about the ubiquity of the number.

See Also

• Prime number
• Lucas number
• Eisenstein prime
• Silver