Why is this number everywhere?

Summary

This video explores the curious fascination with the number 37, revealing why it is humanity’s favorite 'random' number. Through surveys, experiments, and large-scale data, people consistently choose 37, highlighting patterns in how humans perceive randomness. The video delves into 37’s mathematical properties as a prime number, its cultural appearances—from Shakespeare’s plays to everyday objects—and even its role in decision-making through the 'secretary problem,' where 37% represents the optimal stopping point. Combining humor, personal anecdotes, and engaging demonstrations, the video uncovers how this seemingly ordinary number surprisingly influences math, psychology, and life choices.

Takeaways

• 🔢 People are naturally bad at picking truly random numbers, and the number 37 frequently emerges as a common choice between 1 and 100.
• 💡 The 'blue-seven phenomenon' shows humans consistently favor certain numbers, with 37 being the two-digit equivalent in random number selection.
• 🧪 Surveys and experiments show that 37 is not just random—it consistently appears across cultures and populations as a chosen number.
• 🎩 There is even a magic trick, 'The 37 Force,' based entirely on audiences selecting the number 37.
• 📊 Large-scale surveys with over 200,000 respondents confirm 37 and its inversion 73 are perceived as particularly random numbers.
• ⚖️ People perceive odd, prime numbers like 37 as more random than even or round numbers due to their scarcity and unpredictability.
• 🔢 Mathematically, 37 holds unique properties: it is an irregular, Cuban, lucky, sexy, permutable, and Padovan prime, among others.
• 📚 The number 37 fascinated individuals from a young age, marking a prime that stands out among numbers 1 to 100 in early learning experiences.
• 📈 The '37% rule' or 'secretary problem' shows that rejecting the first 37% of options in a sequence maximizes the chance of selecting the best choice.
• 🧠 The script emphasizes intuition and pattern recognition in human decision-making, using 37 as a symbol of unseen numerical and cognitive patterns.
• 🌍 Collecting and noticing instances of 37 demonstrates how humans are naturally attuned to patterns and recurring motifs in daily life.
• 🎓 Platforms like Brilliant can help sharpen intuition and critical thinking skills, allowing people to understand patterns and make informed decisions.

Q & A

Why is the number 37 considered a common 'random' number chosen by people?

People tend to perceive 37 as random because it is an odd, two-digit prime number that doesn't feel too extreme or central. Psychological studies and surveys show that when asked to pick a number between 1 and 100, many choose 37 due to the 'blue-seven phenomenon,' where certain numbers are favored across cultures.

What is the 'blue-seven phenomenon' mentioned in the video?

The blue-seven phenomenon refers to a consistent pattern in which people select the color blue and the number 7 more frequently than other colors and numbers when asked to choose randomly. Similarly, 37 is considered the two-digit equivalent for random number choices.

How did Derek and Emily test the popularity of the number 37?

They conducted hundreds of interviews and later the largest online random number survey ever, receiving 200,000 responses, to observe which numbers people pick when asked for a random number between 1 and 100.

Why are prime numbers, especially 37, perceived as random?

Primes are perceived as random because they appear less frequently in everyday life and do not follow a simple formula. 37, as a prime, stands out because of its rarity and mathematical properties, making it psychologically appealing as a 'random' choice.

What is significant about 37 in the context of prime factors?

37 is the median second prime factor across all integers. This means that half of all numbers have 37 or smaller as their second smallest prime factor, highlighting a surprising mathematical property of this number.

How does the 'secretary problem' relate to the number 37?

The secretary problem calculates the optimal stopping point to maximize the chance of selecting the best option. Mathematically, the best strategy is to observe and reject the first 37% of options, then select the next option better than any seen before, linking the number 37 to decision-making.

What are some unique types of primes that 37 belongs to?

37 is an irregular prime, a Cuban prime, a lucky prime, a sexy prime, a permutable prime, and a Padovan prime. These classifications highlight its mathematical uniqueness and versatility.

What role does intuition play in the selection of numbers like 37?

Intuition guides humans to perceive certain numbers as 'random' or optimal without formal calculation. The widespread preference for 37 illustrates how intuition and subconscious biases influence decision-making.

Why does Derek collect instances of the number 37?

Derek collects occurrences of 37 because it appears frequently in surprising places, from everyday objects to mathematical patterns. This personal fascination has led him to document and preserve 37s he encounters, showing both curiosity and the ubiquity of the number.

How did people respond to the challenge of picking a number they thought few others would choose?

When asked to pick a number that others would least likely choose, 37 and its inversion 73 emerged as the most selected numbers, demonstrating that even attempts to avoid common choices often result in selecting psychologically appealing numbers.

What educational and practical insights does the number 37 provide?

Beyond being a quirky 'favorite number,' 37 offers insights into psychology, probability, primes, and optimal decision-making strategies. It demonstrates how humans perceive randomness and make choices, and it appears in diverse real-world applications, from mathematics to everyday life decisions.

How does the video suggest one can improve intuition and problem-solving skills?

The video suggests using interactive learning platforms like Brilliant, which provide hands-on lessons in math, programming, and data science. Engaging with these concepts helps sharpen critical thinking and enhances the ability to detect patterns and insights, similar to recognizing the significance of numbers like 37.