13
From Wikislippy
13 is is the natural number after 12 and before 14.
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In Math
13 is the 6th smallest prime number.
- 999,999 / 76,923 = 13
Unlucky 13
Thirteen is regarded as an unlucky number in many cultures. Fear of the number 13 is termed triskaidekaphobia. The thirteenth of a month is likewise ominous, particularly when it falls on a Friday in some English-speaking cultures, Sweden, Russia and Germany (see Friday the 13th) or a Tuesday in the Greek and Spanish-speaking world.
Suggested Explanation
Thirteen may be considered a "bad" number simply because when a group of 13 objects or people is divided into two, three, four or six equal groups, there is always one leftover, or "unlucky", object or person.
In Tarot decks, the 13th card of the Major Arcana is Death. While Death is rarely interpreted literally, it is possible that this furthered the perception of 13 as an unlucky number.
13 is the 6th prime number. 6 is sometimes considered an unlucky number due to its association with 666.
Examples
In Scotland, there is no gate 13 in any airport, instead there is a gate 12B.
Some airplanes skip a row 13, going straight from 12 to 14.
Some tall buildings have resorted to skipping the "thirteenth floor", either by numbering it "14" or as "12a".
Some streets do not contain a house number 13.
In many cultures, getting married on any day of the week that falls under number 13 is highly discouraged.
At the Universal Studios sound stages in California, there is no sound stage numbered 13.
Microsoft plans to skip Office 13 for being "an unlucky number," going directly from Office 12 to Office 14.
Trivia
- 13 is the smallest number with eight letters in its spelled out name in English.
- 13 is also the age at which kids become teenagers.
- Fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia.
