Today, the Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) in New York City has its opening ceremony. But that’s not what makes this date really special. Organizers of this tribute to numeracy chose 12-12-12 very carefully. Want to guess why?
Geeks and superstitious folks around the world love dates like today’s. It’s exactly six years, six months and six days from the last time we saw such a repetitive day: June 6, 2006 (06-06-06). And there won’t be another one until 3001. I don’t know about you, but I won’t be around for that one.
I imagine there were a few people up at 1:21:02 this morning, admiring an elegant numerical palindrome — when the time and date reads the same left-to-right as right-to-left.
2012-12-12, 1:21:02 = 20:12:1, 21-21-2102
What can I say? Some people like patterns. Brides and grooms are tying the knots in record numbers today. According to a report by David’s Bridal, about 7,500 couples will wed in the U.S. today. That’s a 1,446 percent increase over December 12, 2011.
An anniversary date like that is easy to remember, right?
But for us mathematically minded folks, it’s the number 12 that really stands out. That’s because it’s so flexible. Its factors are 2, 3, 4 and 6, which means it can be evenly divided by all of these numbers. This has a great number of applications — from a clock face to an egg carton. If you have to file your taxes quarterly — as I do — you know that this means every 3 months. That’s simply because:
4 quarters • 3 months = 12 months
As a result of this numerical flexibility, 12 is a pretty big deal in geometry as well. A cube as 12 sides, and there are 12 pentominoes, or shapes that can be created with five squares that share sides.
Pythagoras got so excited by the number 12, he taught that it has divine meaning.
Perhaps this significance is why the number 12 is such a big deal in some religions and spiritual practices:
- 12 Tribes of Israel
- 12 disciples of Jesus
- 12 feasts of Eastern Orthodoxy
- 12 stations of life in Buddhism
- 12 Jyotirlingas, Hindu Shaivism temples
- 12 direct descendants of Muhammad in Shia Islam
And in everyday, secular life, this special number also abounds:
- 12 members of a jury (U.S.)
- 12 inches in a foot
- 12 steps in Alcoholics Anonymous (and its sister programs)
- 12 zodiac signs
- 12 basic hues on the color wheel
- 12 pairs of ribs in the human body
So whether you love the idea of a repetitive date, a numerical palindrome, or the inherent beauty of the number 12 — or perhaps you’re just really glad it’s hump-day — welcome to 12-12-12. Besides, any day is worth celebrating, right?
Did you notice the special nature of today’s date? Have you planned a special event — like a wedding! — for today? Share your thoughts on today’s date in the comments section.