| Math Fun Library |
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| Question : |
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Why is number 13 called Unlucky ? |
Answer : |
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No one knowns the exact reason, though some people have a filmsy that it being the fifth prime number it was unlucky.
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Many buildings in Europe and USA have no 13th floors, hotels have no rooms numbered 13, many people refuse to
take car numbers that contains number 13, and people often refuse to start a journey or a new business on the 13th
day of the month.
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Fear of the number 13 is termed triskaidekaphobia (from Greek tris=three, kai=and, deka=ten). |
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In Norse mythology, the beloved hero Balder was killed at a banquet by the malevolent god Loki,
who crashed the party of twelve, bringing the group to 13.
This story, as well as the story of the Last Supper, led to one of the most entrenched
connotations of the number 13.
Christian tradition holds that 13 is unholy because it signifies the gathering of 12 witches and the devil. |
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Several mass murderers have 13 letters in their names (Eg :
Harold Shipman, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer). |
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In a deck of Tarot cards, the number 13 card is called Death |
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Apollo was planned to be launched on the 13th day of the month,
at the 13th hour of the day, and at the 13th minute of the hour.
After the crew of the Apollo 13 broadcasted there mission,
everything went wrong, and it was April 13.
That's why a lot of people thought the Apollo 13 was a jinxed mission. |
