In mathematics
8 is: * a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2. * a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of the form , being an integer greater than 1. * the first number which is neither prime nor semiprime. * the base of the octal number system, which is mostly used withList of basic calculations
Etymology
English ''eight'', from Old English ''eahta, æhta'', Proto-Germanic ''*ahto'' is a direct continuation of Proto-Indo-European '' *oḱtṓ(w)-'', and as such cognate with Greek and Latin ''octo-'', both of which stems are reflected by the English prefix oct(o)-, as in the ordinal adjective ''octaval'' or ''octavary'', the distributive adjective is '' octonary''. The adjective ''octuple'' (Latin ''octu-plus'') may also be used as a noun, meaning "a set of eight items"; the diminutive '' octuplet'' is mostly used to refer to eight siblings delivered in one birth. The Semitic numeral is based on a root ''*θmn-'', whence Akkadian ''smn-'', Arabic ''ṯmn-'', Hebrew ''šmn-'' etc. The Chinese numeral, written (Evolution of the Arabic digit
In science
Physics
* In nuclear physics, the second Magic number (physics), magic number. * In particle physics, the eightfold Way (physics), eightfold way is used to classify sub-atomic particles. * In statistical mechanics, the eight-vertex model has 8 possible configurations of arrows at each vertex.Astronomy
* Messier object Lagoon Nebula, M8, a magnitude 5.0 nebula in the constellation of Sagittarius (constellation), Sagittarius. * The New General Catalogue]Chemistry
* The atomic number of oxygen. * The most stable allotrope of a sulfur molecule is made of eight sulfur atoms arranged in a rhombic form. * The maximum number of electrons that can occupy a electron shell#Valence shells, valence shell. * The red pigment lycopene consists of eight isoprene units.Geology
* A disphenoid crystal is bounded by eight scalene triangles arranged in pairs. A ditetragonal prism in the tetragonal crystal system has eight similar faces whose alternate interfacial angles only are equal.Biology
* All spiders, and more generally all arachnids, have eight legs. Orb-weaver spiders of the cosmopolitan family Areneidae have eight similar eyes. * The octopus and its cephalopod relatives in genus Argonaut (animal), ''Argonauta'' have eight arms (tentacles). * Compound coelenterates of the subclass or order octocorallia, Alcyonaria have polyps with eight-branched tentacles and eight septa. * Sea anemones of genus ''Edwardsia'' have eight Mesentery#Invertebrate anatomy, mesenteries. * Animals of phylum Ctenophora swim by means of eight meridional bands of transverse ciliated plates, each plate representing a row of large modified cilia. * The Alypia octomaculata, eight-spotted forester (genus ''Alypia'', family Zygaenidae) is a diurnal moth having black wings with brilliant white spots. * The ascus in fungi of the class Ascomycota#Ascomycetes versus Ascomycetes, Ascomycetes, following nuclear fusion, bears within it typically eight ascospores. * Herbs of genus ''Coreopsis'' (tickseed) have showy flower heads with involucral bracts in two distinct series of eight each. * In human adult dentition there are eight teeth in each quadrant. The eighth tooth is the so-called wisdom tooth. * There are eight cervical nerves on each side in man and most mammals.Psychology
* There are eight Jungian cognitive functions, according to the MBTI models by John Beebe and Linda Berens. * Timothy Leary identified a 8-Circuit Model of Consciousness, hierarchy of eight levels of consciousness.In technology
* A byte is eightIn measurement
* The SI prefix for 10008 is yotta (Y), and for its reciprocal, yocto (y). * In liquid measurement (United States customary units), there are eight fluid ounces in a Cup (volume), cup, eight pints in a gallon and eight tablespoonfuls in a gill (volume), gill. * There are eight furlongs in a mile. * The clove, an old English units#Avoirdupois, English unit of weight, was equal to eight pounds when measuring cheese. * An eight may be an article of clothing of the eighth clothing sizes, size. * Force eight is the first wind strength attributed to a gale on the Beaufort scale when announced on a Shipping Forecast.In culture
Currency
* Sailors and civilians alike from the 1500s onward referred to evenly divided parts of the Spanish dollar as "pieces of eight", or "bits".Architecture
* Various types of buildings are usually eight-sided (octagonal), such as single-roomed gazebos and multi-roomed pagodas (descended from stupas; see religion section below). * Eight Glossary of architecture#C, caulicoles rise out of the leafage in a Corinthian order, Corinthian capital, ending in leaves that support the volutes.In religion, folk belief and divination
Hinduism
* Also known as Ashtha, Aṣṭa, or Ashta in Sanskrit, it is the number of wealth and abundance. * The goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi, has eight forms known as Ashta Lakshmi and worshipped as:Buddhism
* The Dharmacakra, a Buddhism, Buddhist symbol, has eight spokes. The Buddha's principal teaching—the Four Noble Truths—ramifies as the Noble Eightfold Path and the Buddha emphasizes the importance of the eight attainments or jhanas. * In Mahayana Buddhism, the branches of the Eightfold Path are embodied by the Eight Great Bodhisattvas: (Manjusri, Vajrapani, Avalokiteśvara, Maitreya, Ksitigarbha, Nivaranavishkambhi, Akasagarbha, and Samantabhadra (Bodhisattva), Samantabhadra). These are later (controversially) associated with the Eight Consciousnesses according to the Yogacara school of thought: consciousness in the five senses, thought-consciousness, self-consciousness, and unconsciousness-"consciousness" or "store-house consciousness" (alaya-vijñana). The "irreversible" state of enlightenment, at which point a Bodhisattva goes on "autopilot", is the Eight Ground or ''bhūmi''. In general, "eight" seems to be an auspicious number for Buddhists, e.g., the "eight auspicious symbols" (the jewel-encrusted parasol; the goldfish (always shown as a pair, e.g., the glyph of Pisces); the self-replenishing amphora; the white ''kamala'' lotus-flower; the white conch; the eternal (Celtic-style, infinitely looping) knot; the banner of imperial victory; the eight-spoked wheel that guides the ship of state, or that symbolizes the Buddha's teaching). Similarly, Buddha's Birthday, Buddha's birthday falls on the 8th day of the 4th month of the Chinese calendar.Judaism
* The religious rite of brit milah (commonly known as circumcision) is held on a baby boy's eighth day of life. * Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday that starts on the 25th day of Kislev. * Shemini Atzeret (Hebrew language, Hebrew: "Eighth Day of Assembly") is a one-day Jewish holiday immediately following the seven-day holiday of Sukkot.Christianity
* The spiritual The eighth day (Christian), Eighth Day, because the number 7 refers to the days of the week (which repeat themselves). * The number of Beatitudes. * wikisource:Bible (King James)/1 Peter#3:20, 1 Peter 3:20 states that there were eight people on Noah's Ark. * The Antichrist is the eighth king in the Book of Revelation.Islam
* In Islam, eight is the number of angels carrying the Throne of God, throne of Allah in heaven. * The number of gates of heavenTaoism
* Ba Gua * Ba Xian * baduanjin, Ba Duan JinOther
* In Wicca, there are eight Sabbats, festivals, seasons, or spokes in the Wheel of the Year. * In Ancient Egyptian mythology, the Ogdoad (Egyptian), Ogdoad represents the Ancient Egyptian creation myths, eight primordial deities of creation. * In Scientology there are eight dynamics of existence. * There is also the Ogdoad (Gnosticism), Ogdoad in Gnosticism.As a lucky number
* The number eight is considered to be a Numbers in Chinese culture, lucky number in Chinese and other Asian cultures. Eight (; Chinese numerals#Numeral characters, accounting ; pinyin ''bā'') is considered a Numbers in Chinese culture#Eight, lucky number in Chinese culture because it sounds like the word meaning to generate wealth (; Pinyin: ''fā''). Property with the number 8 may be valued greatly by Chinese. For example, a Hong Kong Vehicle registration plate, number plate with the number 8 was sold for $640,000. The opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics, Summer Olympics in Beijing started at 8 seconds and 8 minutes past 8 pm (local time) on 8 August 2008. * In Pythagorean numerology (a pseudoscience) the number 8 represents victory, prosperity and overcoming. * is also considered a lucky number in Japan, but the reason is different from that in Chinese culture. Eight gives an idea of growing prosperous, because the letter () broadens gradually. * The Japanese thought of as a holy number in the ancient times. The reason is less well-understood, but it is thought that it is related to the fact they used eight to express large numbers vaguely such as (literally, eightfold and twentyfold), (literally, eight clouds), (literally, eight millions of Gods), etc. It is also guessed that the ancient Japanese gave importance to pairs, so some researchers guess twice as , which is also guessed to be a holy number in those times because it indicates the world (north, south, east, and west) might be considered a very holy number. * In numerology, 8 is the number of building, and in some theories, also the number of destruction.In astrology
* In astrology, Scorpius, Scorpio is the 8th astrological sign of the Zodiac. * In the Middle Ages, 8 was the number of "unmoving" stars in the sky, and symbolized the perfection of incoming planetary energy.In music and dance
* A note played for one-eighth the duration of a whole note is called an eighth note, or quaver. * An octave, the interval between two musical notes with the same letter name (where one has double the frequency of the other), is so called because there are eight notes between the two on a standard major or minor diatonic scale, including the notes themselves and without chromatic deviation. The ecclesiastical musical mode, modes are ascending diatonic musical scales of eight notes or tones comprising an octave. * There are eight notes in the octatonic scale. * There are eight musicians in a double quartet or an octet (music), octet. Both terms may also refer to a musical composition for eight voices or instruments. * Caledonians is a square dance for eight, resembling the quadrille. * Albums with the number eight in their title include ''8'' by the Swedish band Arvingarna, ''8 (Incubus album), 8'' by the American rock band Incubus (band), Incubus, ''The Meaning of 8'' by Minnesota indie rock band Cloud Cult and ''8ight'' by Anglo-American singer-songwriter Beatie Wolfe. * Dream Theater's eighth album ''Octavarium (album), Octavarium'' contains many different references to the number 8, including the number of songs and various aspects of the music and cover artwork. * "Eight maids a-milking" is the gift on the eighth day of Christmas in the carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas (song), The Twelve Days of Christmas". * The 8-track tape, 8-track cartridge is a musical recording format. * "#8" is the stage name of Slipknot (band), Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor. * "Too Many Eights" is a song by Athens, Georgia's Supercluster (band), Supercluster. * Eight Seconds, a Canadian musical group popular in the 1980s with their most notable song "Kiss You (When It's Dangerous)". * "Eight Days a Week (song), Eight Days a Week" is a #1 single for the music group The Beatles. * Figure 8 (album), ''Figure 8'' is the fifth studio album by singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, released in the year 2000, an album released by Julia Darling in 1999, and an album released by Outasight in 2011. * Ming Hao from the k-pop group Seventeen (South Korean band)#Performance team, Seventeen goes by the name "The8". * "8 (circle)" is the eighth song on the album ''22, A Million'' by the American band Bon Iver. * "8" is the eighth song on the album ''When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?'' by Billie Eilish.In film and television
* ''8 Guys'' is a 2003 short film written and directed by Dane Cook. * ''8 Man'' (or ''Eightman''): 1963 Japanese manga and anime superhero. * 8 Mile (film), ''8 Mile'' is a 2002 film directed by Curtis Hanson. * 8mm (film), ''8 mm'' is a 1999 film directed by Joel Schumacher. * ''8 Women'' (Original French title: ) is a 2001 film directed by François Ozon. * ''Eight Below'' is a 2006 film directed by Frank Marshall (film producer), Frank Marshall. * ''Eight Legged Freaks'' is a 2002 film directed by Ellory Elkayem. * ''Eight Men Out'' is a 1988 film directed by John Sayles. * ''Jennifer Eight'', also known as ''Jennifer 8'', is a 1992 film written and directed by Bruce Robinson. * ''Eight Is Enough'' is an American television comedy-drama series. * In ''Stargate SG-1'' and ''Stargate Atlantis'', dialing an 8-chevron address will open a wormhole to another galaxy. * ''The Hateful Eight'' is a 2015 American western mystery film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. * ''Kate Plus 8'' is an American reality television show.In sports and other games
* Eight-ball pool (cue sports), pool is played with a cue ball and 15 numbered balls, the black ball numbered 8 being the middle and most important one, as the winner is the player or side that legally pockets it after first pocketing its numerical group of 7 object balls (for other meanings see ''Eight ball (disambiguation)''). * In chess, each side has eight pawns and the board is made of 64 squares arranged in an eight by eight lattice. The eight queens puzzle is a challenge to arrange eight queens on the board so that none can capture any of the others. * In the game of eights or Crazy Eights, each successive player must play a card either of the same suit or of the same rank as that played by the preceding player, or may play an eight and call for any suit. The object is to get rid of all one's cards first. * In association football, the number 8 has historically been the number of the Central Midfielder. * In Australian rules football, the top eight teams at the end of the Australian Football League regular season qualify for the AFL finals series, finals series (i.e. playoffs). * In baseball: ** The center fielder is designated as number 8 for scorekeeping purposes. ** The College World Series, the final phase of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, NCAA Division I tournament, features eight teams. * In rugby union, the only position without a proper name is the Number eight (rugby union), Number 8, a forward position. * In rugby league: ** Most competitions (though not the Super League, which uses static squad numbering) use a position-based player numbering system in which one of the two starting props wears the number 8. ** The Australia-based National Rugby League has its own 8-team finals series, similar but not identical in structure to that of the Australian Football League. * In Rowing (sport), rowing, an "eight" refers to a sweep-oar racing boat with a crew of eight rowers plus a coxswain. * In the 2008 Summer Olympics, 2008 Games of the XXIX Olympiad held in Beijing, the official opening was on 08/08/08 at 8:08:08 p.m. China Standard Time, CST. * In Rock Climbing, climbers frequently use the Figure-eight knot, Figure Eight knot to tie into their harnesses.In foods
* Nestlé sells a brand of chocolates filled with peppermint-flavoured cream called After Eight, referring to the time 8 p.m. * There are eight vegetables in V8 (beverage), V8 juice.In literature
* Eights may refer to octosyllable, octosyllabic, usually Choliamb, iambic, Meter (poetry), lines of verse. * The drott-kvaett, an Old Icelandic verse, consisted of a stanza of eight regular lines. * In Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series, eight is a magical number and is considered taboo. Eight is not safe to be said by wizards on the Discworld (world), Discworld and is the number of Bel-Shamharoth. Also, there are eight days in a Disc week and eight colours in a Disc spectrum, the eighth one being octarine. * Lewis Carroll's poem ''The Hunting of the Snark'' has 8 "fits" (cantos), which is noted in the full name "The Hunting of the Snark – ''An Agony, in Eight Fits''." * Eight apparitions appear to Macbeth (character), Macbeth in Act 4 scene 1 of Shakespeare's ''Macbeth'' as representations of the eight descendants of Banquo.In slang
* An "eighth" is a common measurement of cannabis (drug), marijuana, meaning an eighth of an ounce. It is also a common unit of sale for psilocybin mushrooms. * Avril Lavigne's song "Sk8er Boi" uses this convention in the title. * "Section 8" is common U.S. slang for "crazy", based on the United States armed forces, U.S. military's Section 8 (military), Section 8 discharge for Mental disorder, mentally unfit personnel. * The Section 8 (housing), Housing Choice Voucher Program, operated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, is commonly referred to as the Section 8 program, as this was the original section of the Act which instituted the program. * In Colombia and Venezuela, "volverse un ocho" (meaning to tie oneself in a figure 8) refers to getting in trouble or contradicting oneself. * In China, "8" is used in chat speak as a term for parting. This is due to the closeness in pronunciation of "8" (bā) and the English word "bye".See also
* The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two *List of highways numbered 8References
External links