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Can numbers have aphrodisiacal properties?
Yes, if you are to believe some Arab numerologists as quoted by Martin
Gardner Mathematical Magic Show, cited by Simon Singh in Fermat's
Enigma. Let me explain.
Friendly or Amicable Numbers
All numbers have divisors, smaller numbers by which they can be
divided, the quotient being a whole number. For example, the divisors
of 6 are 1, 2 and 3 and the divisors of 28 are 1, 2, 4, 7, and 14. Since
the sum of the divisors of 6 and 28 are indeed the numbers themselves,
6 and 28 are called perfect numbers.
Friendly numbers are pairs of numbers such that each number is the
sum of the divisors of the other number. The friendly numbers are not
common, the simplest pair being 220 and 284:
Sum of divisors of 220 = 1 + 2 + 4 + 5 + 10 + 11 + 20 + 22 + + 44 +
55 + 110 = 284
Sum of divisors of 284 = 1 + 2 + 4 + 71 + 142 = 220
Three other pairs are 1184 and 1210, 17,296 and 18,416, and 9,363,584
and 9,437,056.
Friendly Numbers as Aphrodisiacs
According to the Arab numerologist, carve one of the friendly numbers
on a fruit and the second number of the pair on another fruit. Eat the
first fruit yourself and offer the second fruit to somebody whose love
you are longing for. If that person eats the fruit (or, perhaps, if that
person is skilled in math) you can hope for success.
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On this page:
Friendly numbers in general
Friendly numbers as aphrodisiacs
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