18 (number)

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18 (eighteen) is the natural number following 17 and preceding 19.

In mathematics[]

• Eighteen is a composite number, its divisors being 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9. Three of these divisors (3, 6 and 9) add up to 18, hence 18 is a semiperfect number.^[1] Eighteen is the first inverted square-prime of the form p·q².
• In base ten, it is a Harshad number.
• It is an abundant number, as the sum of its proper divisors is greater than itself (1+2+3+6+9 = 21). It is known to be a solitary number, despite not being coprime to this sum.
• It is the number of one-sided pentominoes.
• It is the only number where the sum of its written digits in base 10 (1+8 = 9) is equal to half of itself (18/2 = 9).

In science[]

Chemistry[]

• Eighteen is the atomic number of argon.
• Group 18 of the periodic table is called the noble gases.
• The 18-electron rule is a rule of thumb in transition metal chemistry for characterising and predicting the stability of metal complexes.

In religion and literature[]

• The Hebrew word for "life" is חי (chai), which has a numerical value of 18. Consequently, the custom has arisen in Jewish circles to give donations and monetary gifts in multiples of 18 as an expression of blessing for long life.
• In Judaism, in the Talmud; Pirkei Avot (5:25), Rabbi Yehudah ben Teime gives the age of 18 as the appropriate age to get married ("Ben shmonah esra lechupah", at eighteen years old to the Chupah (marriage canopy)). (See Coming of age, Age of majority).
• Shemoneh Esrei (sh'MOH-nuh ES-ray) is a prayer that is the center of any Jewish religious service. Its name means "eighteen". The prayer is also known as the Amidah.
• In Ancient Roman custom the number 18 can symbolise a blood relative.
• Joseph Heller's novel Catch-22 was originally named Catch-18 because of the Hebrew meaning of the number, but was amended to the published title to avoid confusion with another war novel, Mila 18.^[2]
• There are 18 chapters in the Bhagavad Gita, which is contained in the Mahabharata, which has 18 books. The Kurukshetra War which the epic depicts, is between 18 armies (11 on the Kuru side, 7 on the Pandava). The war itself lasts for 18 days. In the other Hindu epic, the Ramayana, the war between Rama and the demons also lasted 18 days.
• In Babism the first 18 disciples of the Báb were known as the Letters of the Living.

As lucky or unlucky number[]

• In Chinese tradition, 18 pronounced 十八 (shí bā) and is considered a lucky number due to similarity with 實發 (shì fā) 'definitely get rich', 'to get rich for sure'.^[3]
• According to applications of numerology in Judaism, the letters of the word chai ("living") add up to 18. Thus, 18 is considered a lucky number and many gifts for B'nai Mitzvot and weddings are in $18 increments.^[4]

Age 18[]

In most countries, 18 is the age of majority, in which a minor becomes a legal adult. It is also the voting age, marriageable age, drinking age and smoking age in most countries, though sometimes these ages are different than the age of majority.

• In the United States, 18 is the:
  • Age for sexual consent in eleven states and under federal law.^[5]
  • Minimum age to purchase firearms in thirty-eight states with the exception of handguns (21 under federal law).^[6]
  • Marriageable age without parental consent except for Nebraska (19), Mississippi and Puerto Rico (21).
  • The minimum age at which one can purchase, rent, or buy tickets to NC-17-rated films or buy video games with an AO rating.

In sports[]

• In association football (soccer), "the 18" is a slang term for the penalty area.
• In Australian rules football (except in AFL Women's), each team has 18 players on the field during play.
• There are 18 holes on a regulation golf course.
• In Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese baseball), No.18 is known as Ace number.

In other fields[]

Eighteen is also:

• A 2005 movie directed by Richard Bell and starring Brendan Fletcher and Alan Cumming.
• A 2002 album by electronic artist Moby.
• "18 and Life" is a 1989 single by Skid Row
• The number of chapters into which James Joyce's epic novel Ulysses is divided.
• Russ Wheeler's car number in the film Days of Thunder.
• The number of wheels on the most common type of North American tractor-trailer truck, which are hence often called 18-wheelers.
• The number of the French department Cher and the Turkish province Bitlis.
• DVD-18 is double-sided, double-layered DVD format.
• A Canon error message, see E18 error.
• Android 18, a fictional character in the Dragon Ball manga and anime series.
• 18th Street gang, a Hispanic American gang.
• The Hindu epic Mahabharata has eighteen sections, involves eighteen armies and is about a war fought over eighteen days.
• In the Chinese mythos, Hell has 18 levels.
• In Chinese folklore, the Shaolin temple had a group of 18 bronze Monks. Initiates could only be considered full graduates of Shaolin martial arts if they could defeat them in combat.
• In Neo-Nazi circles 18 is the numerical sign for Adolf Hitler (1 standing for A and 8 standing for H). It is also the number for the UK-based terrorist group Combat 18.^{[7][unreliable source?][8][unreliable source?]}
• In 1990 Megadeth released "Hangar 18" as a single from Rust in Peace.
• Eighteen Visions (often abbreviated to 18V), an alternative metal/metalcore band from Orange County, California.
• Eighteen Eighteen, a South African Rap artist.
• "I'm Eighteen", Alice Cooper's first Top Ten hit single, from their 1971 album Love It to Death.
• A surname, recorded in East Anglia in the 18th century.^[9]
• In English speech, commonly confused with the number 80, as they sound similar when spoken

See also[]

• Numeral system

Notes[]