56 (fifty-six) is the natural number following 55 and preceding 57.
In mathematics
56 is the sum of the first six triangular numbers (making it a tetrahedral number), as well as the sum of six consecutive primes (3 + 5 + 7 + 11 + 13 + 17). It is also a tetranacci number and a pronic number. Adding up the divisors of 1 through 8 gives 56. Since 56 is twice a perfect number, it is itself a semiperfect number.
Since it is possible to find sequences of 56 consecutive integers such that each inner member shares a factor with either the first or the last member, 56 is an Erdős–Woods number.
The maximum determinant in an 8 by 8 matrix of zeroes and ones is 56.
In science
Astronomy
- The Saros number of the lunar eclipse series which began on -852 May 7 and ended on 428 June 13. The duration of Saros series 56 was 1280.1 years, and it contained 72 lunar eclipses.
Biology
In music
In sports
In other fields
Fifty-six is:
- The number of Aubrey Holes (thought to have located wooden posts) in the first stage of Stonehenge. (National Geographic, June 2008).
- The most complex polygon mentioned in ancient texts Plutarch [1]. It has recently been shown that an accurate 56-sided polygon can be created using simple 'square and circle' geometry[2]
- The number of men who signed the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776.
- The code for international direct dial phone calls to Chile.
- The maximum speed of analog data transmission over a POTS in the 20th century was 56 kbit/s.
- The name of the town Fifty-Six, Arkansas.
- The number of men of Netophah at the census of men of Israel upon return from exile (Ezra 2:22).
- The symbol of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
- The number of counties in the state of Montana.
- The car number of Ray Peyton, Jr. (Breckin Meyer) in Herbie: Fully Loaded.
- Famous Brazilian politician, Enéas Carneiro has an odd way of repeating the number of his party, "Fifty-Six" (cinqüenta e seis, in Portuguese), making it a widely repeated jargon in his country.
- Department 56 designer of collectibles, giftware and seasonal decorations such as miniature village houses.
- "Nasser 56" documentary.
- Saddam Hussein was executed 56 days after conviction in 2006.
- Shirley Temple, as a child, wore 56 curls in her hair. Curls were set by her mother who thus made sure of the exact number.
- Mao Zedong was 56 when the People's Republic of China was established on Oct. 1, 1949.
- Cape Horn, the Southernmost tip of South America, is located at almost exactly 56 degrees south.
- In the Los Angeles postal district, Zone 56 (now the ZIP Code area 90056) is one of few that is not within the Los Angeles City Limits (90020 and 90044 are others).
- The number of the French department Morbihan.
- Year identifier used on motor vehicles registered in the UK between 1st September 2006 and 28th February 2007-
- Some roads and highways throughout the world have the number 56.
References
- ^ Plutarch, Moralia V: 30
- ^ Pegs and Ropes: Geometry at Stonehenge.[1]
Historical years
56 A.D., 56 B.C., 1756, 1856, 1956, 2056, etc.
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