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| What's in a number? |
The other day I began to wonder if there is anything special about the number "83," since I recently began my 84th trip around the sun when I turned 83. I asked SG (who has always been clued in to mathematics) if he knows of anything special about the number 83. "Well, it's a prime number, for one." I know that prime numbers are only divisible by 1, or themselves, but that was the extent of my knowledge. Years ago, however, I read a novel that sparked my interest in autism and prime numbers, The_Curious_Incident_of_the_Dog_in_the_Night-Time is a book (now also a play) very much, and I read it twice. It was subsequently turned into a play. (Sorry I cannot make that link work. Check it out on Amazon.)
It also sparked my interest in autism, since the protagonist is a teenage boy with high-functioning autism. The author (Mark Haddon) ended up writing the book from the boy's perspective (Christopher) and I was immediately curious myself about this condition. I'm pretty sure I have known people who are "on the spectrum," as they say, and I think I have at times been a little envious of someone having the possibility to evoke such incredible focus.
I have since learned that most cases of autism are genetically caused, but lately there has been much controversy about it. I think in a few more years, we will know much more about the condition. But back to the main focus of this post, that number. From an AI Overvuew link:
The number 83 is the 23rd prime number, a Sophie Germain prime, and the atomic number for bismuth; it signifies creativity in numerology, appears in biblical contexts (like Moses at age 83), and is used in sports jerseys, with its Roman numeral being LXXXIII.
It is also a "Super-Prime" becaused it is the 23rd prime number, which is also a prime. And there is plenty of places that the number appears in religious texts and stories. I don't think of this will make a difference in my experience of it, but gosh, it's fascinating, don't you think?
It is fascinating! You are in your prime, again!
ReplyDeleteWe found out when our son, Jake, was about 40 that he is on the spectrum. It was a revelation for me, because it answered so many questions about his childhood and adult behavior patterns. He is high functioning and very intelligent, seems "normal" but has struggled all of his life to conform. He finally reached burn out when his last job as a surveyor ended, and now lives with Jill and receives emotional counseling and employment assistance. So far no job has been found that fits him. It is hard for him to find people who "get" him, and will try to accommodate his divergence (He calls it his super power) instead of trying to "fix" him.
I have always meant to read that book. This time I'll get it on my list.
DJan, I will definitely try to find that book. We have family members on the Spectrum too... highly functional, very intelligent and focused - but struggle with social norms.
ReplyDeleteThis last book I read "Secret of Secrets" by Dan Brown brings up things like Autism, Savants, as well as near death and out of body experiences, etc. as possible proof that human consciousness is separate from the brain - that some for whatever reason can experience the world 'more'... and are more in tune with the oneness of it. There is research going on about this and yes, it is fascinating! My oldest son is into numbers too and is always sending me curious facts about certain numbers - how they coincide with dates, etc.