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20 Fun Facts About The Number 4 That Will Fascinate You
In Roman numerals, the number 4 is represented as “IV.”
The four seasons bring a variety of weather and beauty, but only one of them comes with pumpkin spice.
In numerology, 4 is associated with stability and structure.
There are four basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, and bitter.
The four cardinal directions are north, south, east, and west.
A tetrahedron is a three-dimensional shape with four triangular faces.
The number 4 is associated with the planet Mercury in astrology.
Four is the only number that is both a square (2²) and a composite number.
The fourth planet from the sun is Mars.
There are four main types of clouds: cumulus, stratus, cirrus, and nimbus.
Common 4/4 time signature in music.
The four elements are – earth, air, fire, and water.
A four-leaf clover is considered lucky because it’s rare.
Four colors needed to color a map.
The Fantastic Four are a group of superheroes with incredible powers.
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Table of Contents
1. In Chinese culture, four is unlucky, sounding like death
The number 4 is considered unlucky in Chinese culture because it sounds like the word for death in Mandarin and other Chinese dialects.
This widespread belief has led to the avoidance of the number 4 in many aspects of daily life, such as building and apartment numbers and phone and flight numbers. The superstition is also prevalent in other East Asian cultures.
2. A standard deck of playing cards has four suits
A standard deck of playing cards contains 52 cards and four suits: hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. Each suit has 13 cards, with one ace, three face cards, and nine numbered cards.
Recognizable symbols traditionally represent the four suits. They have been used in various card games for centuries, originating in the Middle East and India.
3. A square has four sides and four corners
A square has four equal sides and four right angles, also called vertices. It is a two-dimensional symmetrical shape commonly used in architecture, design, and mathematics.
The area of a square is calculated by multiplying its length by its width, while its perimeter is the sum of the lengths of all four sides.
4. Buddhism’s core teachings are the Four Noble Truths
The Four Noble Truths are a core teaching of Buddhism, dating back over 2,500 years. They explain the nature of suffering, its causes, and the path to liberation from suffering.
These truths are considered a fundamental guide for those seeking enlightenment and freedom from the cycle of birth and death. Millions of Buddhists worldwide continue to study and practice them.
5. The number 4 is sometimes used to symbolize stability and order.
The number 4 is associated with stability, balance, and order. It has been used symbolically in many cultures throughout history and is significant in religious traditions and mathematics.
It is the smallest number that can be divided into equal parts and is the only even number that is the sum of two odd primes and the difference of two consecutive primes.
6. Roman numeral for 4 is IV
This notation is derived from the subtractive principle used in Roman numerals, where a smaller numeral placed before a larger numeral indicates subtraction.
Specifically, IV combines the values of V (5) and I (1), resulting in 4 when calculated as
7. Fourth of July: US holiday celebrating independence
The Fourth of July, or Independence Day, is a national holiday in the United States commemorating the country’s declaration of independence from Great Britain in 1776.
It is celebrated with fireworks, parades, and other festive events across the country and serves as a reminder of the nation’s founding principles of democracy and freedom.
8. Four has the same number of letters as the value
No other number shares this unique characteristic in the English counting system. This number is often used for wordplay and can be found in various cultural references.
9. The Four Freedoms speech by Franklin D Roosevelt included freedom of religion
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms speech, delivered in 1941, articulated four fundamental freedoms that he believed everyone should enjoy worldwide: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
This speech was significant as it laid the groundwork for what would later be included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Roosevelt’s vision aimed to promote global peace and security by ensuring that these freedoms were recognized and protected for all people.
10. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: conquest, war, famine, and death

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A creepy fact associated with the number 4 is the tale of the Four Horsemen. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse symbolize four catastrophes that will occur during the end times, as described in the Book of Revelation.
They represent conquest, war, famine, and death and have been subject to much interpretation and analysis in religious and cultural contexts throughout history.
11. Beryllium’s atomic number is four
Beryllium is a chemical element with the atomic number 4, meaning it has four protons in its nucleus. It is a rare element found in minerals such as beryl and chrysoberyl and has unique properties such as lightness, strength, and corrosion resistance.
Beryllium is used in various applications, including the aerospace and defense industries, nuclear reactors, and electronic devices.
12. Violin, viola, and cello each have four strings
The violin, viola, and cello are stringed instruments with four strings. The four strings are typically tuned to the pitches G, D, A, and E and are made of different materials and thicknesses.
For centuries, using four strings has been a defining characteristic of these instruments, allowing musicians to produce a wide range of pitches, dynamics, and timbres.
13. Brain has four lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
The human brain has four main lobes: the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes. Each lobe is associated with different functions and abilities.
The frontal lobe is responsible for reasoning and problem-solving, the parietal lobe is responsible for spatial awareness and sensory processing, the temporal lobe is responsible for hearing and language processing, and the occipital lobe is responsible for visual processing.
Together, these lobes allow us to process information and engage in complex cognitive and behavioral processes.
14. The four colors used in a CMYK model are cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.
The CMYK color model is based on four primary colors: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. It is a subtractive color model commonly used in printing and graphic design.
Each color is assigned a percentage value, which determines the amount of ink in each color used in printing or displaying an image. It allows for more precise and consistent color reproduction.
15. There are four chambers in the human heart.

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The human heart has four chambers: the upper atria receive blood, while the lower ventricles pump it out. The left side contains the left atrium and ventricle, which pump oxygenated blood to the body.
The right side contains the right atrium and ventricle, which pump deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
This four-chambered structure allows for the efficient circulation of blood throughout the body.
16. Four is the number of seasons in a year.
There are four seasons in a year: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Different weather patterns and natural phenomena characterize each season.
The year’s division into four seasons is standard in many cultures and has been observed for thousands of years. The four seasons serve as a natural cycle of change and renewal.
17. Four is the smallest composite number
The number 4 is the smallest composite number because it can be divided evenly by numbers other than one and itself. Specifically, four can be divided by 2 to yield 2, also a positive integer.
Composite numbers have at least one factor besides one and themselves, whereas prime numbers have only two factors: 1 and the number itself. Thus, four is classified as a composite number.
18. In astrology, the fourth sign of the zodiac is Cancer.
In astrology, the zodiac is a system of 12 astrological signs that correspond to the 12 months of the year. The exact sign of the zodiac is Cancer, which is associated with nurturing, emotion, and intuition.
Those born under this sign are often described as sensitive, caring, and protective, with a solid attachment to home and family life.
The sign is also associated with the moon, which is said to rule over emotions and the unconscious mind.
19. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division: four basic mathematical operations

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Addition involves combining numbers to produce a sum, while subtraction consists of taking one number away from another.
Multiplication is the process of repeated addition, while division involves splitting a quantity into equal parts. Mastery of these operations is essential for building a solid foundation in mathematics.
20. Number 4 holds great significance in many cultures
The number 4 holds great significance across various cultures and traditions. In many Eastern philosophies, such as Buddhism, the number represents stability and is often associated with the four noble truths.
In Western culture, the number 4 can symbolize completeness, as seen in the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) and the four elements (earth, water, air, fire). Additionally, in numerology, four is linked to dependability and practicality.
For those curious about interesting facts about the number 4, it’s worth noting that its symbolism extends to various fields, including mathematics and literature, where it often represents balance and order.
FAQS
The secret of 4 lies in its symbolism of order and completeness, particularly in many cultural and spiritual traditions.
The number 4 appears often in popular cultures, such as in movie titles like Fantastic Four and as a symbol for groups of four like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It is also featured in literature and poetry, often representing balance or completion.
The number 4 has several interesting mathematical properties. For example, it is the only number with the same number of letters in its name as its value. It is also the first composite number, meaning it is not a prime number. In addition, it is a square number, meaning it is the product of two equal integers, and it is an abundant number, meaning the sum of its proper divisors is greater than the number itself.
The number 4 is special because it represents stability, structure, and balance, often symbolized by four elements, seasons, or directions.
Four is often considered foundational, seen in nature and human life, such as four limbs, cardinal directions, and classical elements.