Interesting Facts about the Number Four

Posted Wed, 2008-05-28 11:29 by rosslaird
  • 4 is the smallest number of colors sufficient to color all planar maps
  • 4 is the number of fundamental forces in nature (the strong force, the weak force, the electromagentic force, and gravity)
  • 4 is the number of states of matter (gas, liquid, solid, plasma)
  • 4 is the number of states of the the nervous system (flight, freeze, fight, orient)
  • 4 is the number of general classes of addiction (hallucinogens, opiates/opioids, stimulants, alcohol)
  • 4 is the number of states of matter according to Aristotle (fire, earth, air, water)
  • 4 is the number of petals in the root chakra (according to Hinduism)
  • 4 is the number of Hebrew letters of the Tetragrammaton (the authentic name of God)
  • 4 is the number of directions and winds in many traditions and mythologies
  • 4 is the number of noble truths in Buddhism (suffering, the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering, the path toward the cessation of suffering)
  • 4 is the number of virtues according to Plato (wisdom, courage, self-control, and justice)
  • 4 is the only number in which the letters of the English form constitute the value of the number (four letters)
  • 4 is the smallest composite number in mathematics (and is the smallest composite number equal to the sum of its prime factors)
  • 4 is the number of horseman of the Apocalypse in the Christian tradition
  • 4 is the number of mythological calves in the Egyptian tradition
  • 4 is the  number of dimensions in relativity theory
  • 4 is the number of rules in mathematics (addition, substraction, multiplication, division)
  • 4 is the number of seasons