What is the significance of the number 47?

[los2188]

I've always wanted to know this, but what is the significance of the number 47 in trek? I know that it's an inside type thing, but what makes the number 47 so special if at all?

 

[Christopher]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/47_(number)

Forty-seven has been the favorite number of Pomona College, California, USA, since 1964. A mathematical proof, written in 1964 by Professor Donald Bentley, supposedly demonstrates that all numbers are equal to 47.[4] However, Bentley offered it as a "joke proof" to further a popular student research project that listed real and imaginative "47 sightings". Bentley used the invalid proof to introduce his students to the concept of mathematical proofs.[5]

Joe Menosky graduated from Pomona College in 1979 and went on to become one of the story writers of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Menosky "infected" other Star Trek writers with an enthusiasm for the number 47.

The joke transcends Trek, also showing up in J.J. Abrams shows from Alias to Fringe (so it's an interesting convergence that he ended up doing Trek).

 

[alpha_leonis]

The most "amazing" (??) example of the Star Trek "47 convergence" is the respective ages of the actors who played the five captains.

Patrick Stewart and Scott Bakula were both 47 years old at the beginning of their respective series.

Avery Brooks and Kate Mulgrew were both 47 at the *end* of their series.

William Shatner was 47 years old at the time of the filming of TMP.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I'm pretty sure William Shatner was bound to be 47 at some point during his Trek career.

 

[Tiberius]

But it could have easily been during the period when there was no Trek being made...

 

[Mr_Homn]

Topic Creator,

You really shouldn't be asking such questions.

 

[Forbin]

Wow, and I turned 47 in 2004 when Enterprise was in the middle of sucking the life out of the franchise.

 

[Christopher]

Here's one: The number of Star Trek main-title regulars, plus the major semi-regular crew/community members who appeared in at least 30 installments, equals 47:

1. Kirk
2. Spock
3. McCoy
4. Scott
5. Sulu
6. Uhura
7. Chekov
8. Chapel
9. Picard
10. Riker
11. Data
12. La Forge
13. Troi
14. Worf
15. Crusher
16. Yar
17. W. Crusher
18. Guinan
19. Sisko
20. Kira
21. Odo
22. Bashir
23. J. Dax
24. E. Dax
25. O'Brien
26. J. Sisko
27. Quark
28. Rom
29. Nog
30. Garak
31. Janeway
32. Chakotay
33. Tuvok
34. EMH
35. Paris
36. Torres
37. Kim
38. Neelix
39. Kes
40. Seven
41. Archer
42. T'Pol
43. Tucker
44. Phlox
45. Reed
46. Sato
47. Mayweather

Of course I had to fudge the definitions to get that result, since I had to define it in such a way as to leave out frequently recurring characters like Pulaski (who was never technically a main-title regular), Keiko, and Dukat, as well as perennial bit players like Leslie, Morn, Ayala, etc. (not to mention Porthos). But hey, that's how numerology works -- you make up the conclusion you want and cook the data to support it.

 

[JarodRussell]

There are 47 47-year-old virgins that one day where promised 47 virgins if they watch all Star Trek episodes and films in a row without interruption.

 

[T'Cal]

Supposedly, if you were to pick a random two digit number and then for a few months note how many times it and 47 come up in all that you observe, 47 will be more prevalent. All I know is, I use 47 whenever I can. I must use it 47 times a day! (That's four!)

 

[d'Anconia]

"47 is 42, corrected for inflation"-Rick Berman

 

[SilentP]

The amount of times 47 appears in Star Trek: Online gets annoying, really beats the dead horse as a joke.

 

[C.E. Evans]

But 1 is the loneliest number...

I also thought it was the number of things that contained the numbers 4 and 7 in Trek too...

(for example)
USS Voyager NCC-74656
USS Defiant NX-72405

 

[Nick086]

There are 47 47-year-old virgins that one day where promised 47 virgins if they watch all Star Trek episodes and films in a row without interruption.

wow, just wow

 

[Delta Vega]

47 is the amount of episodes named in the "10 worst episodes" thread.

 

[Sector 7]

There are 47 47-year-old virgins that one day where promised 47 virgins if they watch all Star Trek episodes and films in a row without interruption.

wow, just wow

I knew one day it would happen... Today is the day I agree with JarodRussell...

Seriously, I do remember reading that JJ Abrams uses the number 47 in honor of his grandfather.

 

[T'Cal]

But 1 is the loneliest number...

I also thought it was the number of things that contained the numbers 4 and 7 in Trek too...

(for example)
USS Voyager NCC-74656
USS Defiant NX-72405

The Defiant's registry is NX-74205. OMG, I'm such a nerd...

 

[Christopher]

What, nobody's come into this thread about the number 47 to make a Mitt Romney joke?

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Wow, and I turned 47 in 2004 when Enterprise was in the middle of sucking the life out of the franchise.

Which proves conclusively that its all your fault.

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

What, nobody's come into this thread about the number 47 to make a Mitt Romney joke?

The punchline is "47 summer homes", right?