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From: wcs@ho95e.UUCP (Bill.Stewart.4K435.x0705)
Newsgroups: net.math
Subject: Re: The number 1729.
Message-ID: <159@ho95e.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Sep-85 19:20:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: ho95e.159
Posted: Wed Sep 11 19:20:19 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 14-Sep-85 03:16:24 EDT
References: <693@tpvax.fluke.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 12

> One last thing, while I'm on the topic of numbers: someone told me once that
> the number 42 has some special mathematical significance, but I forget what
> it is. It is the answer a computer named "Deep Thought" gave to the
> question, "What is the meaning of life, the universe and everything?" in the
> novel _Hitchhikers_Guide_to_the_Galaxy_. Does anyone know why the author
> chose this number? Or what it's mathematical significance might be?
>  Gary Benson  *  John Fluke Mfg. Co.  *  PO Box C9090  *  Everett WA  *  98206
Later on, the question (to which 42 is the answer) reveals itself to
Arthur Dent:
	What is six times nine?
-- 
## Bill Stewart, AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ 1-201-949-0705 ihnp4!ho95c!wcs