42 (number)

List of numbers — Integers << 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 >>
Cardinal	forty-two
Ordinal	42nd (forty-second)
Factorization
Divisors	2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21
Roman numeral	XLII
Binary	101010
Hexadecimal	2A

In mathematics

Bracketed by a twin prime, this composite number's factorization makes it a sphenic number. It is also a pentadecagonal number, a Catalan number and a meandric number.

In other fields

Forty-two is also:

• The atomic number of molybdenum.
• The answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything, according to Douglas Adams' book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. However, the unanswered quandary was then: What was the question, exactly?
• For this very reason the number is sometimes used in connection with computers; for instance it's included in the beginning of every TIFF-file to identify it as such.
• The sum of the numbers / spots on a pair of conventional (six-sided) dice.
• In Lewis Carroll's book The Hunting of the Snark, (before Douglas Adams' tome was written) the baker left 42 pieces of luggage on the pier.
• The number of men of Beth-azmaveth in the Census of men of Israel upon return from exile (Holy Bible, Ezra 2:24)
• 42 is the maximum total number received of any one present in the song The Twelve Days of Christmas.
• The number of the French department Loire.
• part of the name of:
  • 42 BELOW, a vodka produced in New Zealand.
  • Level 42, the name of a band.
• the name of a trick-taking game played with dominoes.
• The year AD 42, 42 BC, and 1942.