what is the importance of the number 42 ?

Question

(in the meaning of life)

Answer 1

Story goes like this...

A group of hyper-=intelligent, pan-dimensional beings commissioned the construction of a super computer that could calculate the Ultimate Answer - the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything.

So above-mentioned beings asked the computer for THE ANSWER. To life, etc...

The computer came up with the answer millions of years later. The answer was... 42.

The computer was quick to point out that the answer has no meaning unless you understand the question.

So, the building of the Earth, the most sophisticated computer in existence, was begun and the Earth was to complete its 6 billion year program and spit out the ultimate question. However, through a series of political shenanigans, the Earth was destroyed to make way for a hyperspace express route.

If you read the rest of the Hitchhiker's series, you will understand why the number 42 matters. Sorry to spoil, but it's the street address of the club where Arthur Dent will kill Agrajag for the last time. By a strange mix-up in space-time, Arthur actually kills Agrajag for the last time before he kills him for the last time. (Agrajag is the soul of the bowl of petunias, among gazillion other creatures all of whom have been murdered by Arthur Dent.- Read Life, The Universe, and Everything to understand)

It's a very funny series, I suggest that you read them to understand the full storyline. The author was Douglas Adams. The choice of the number 42 had no significant meaning at the time he chose it, it was just a number, as good as any other. It was only later that he worked 42 into the storyline.

Answer 2

42 is The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything, according to Douglas Adams' series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

But seriously, check out the Wikipedia page...I have never seen such a great breakdown on the history and meaning of a single number.

Happy reading...

Answer 3

There is a lot to be said about 42. First of all, it's bracketed by twin primes. But the list goes on and on. Check this out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/42_(number)

* 42° is the critical angle of refraction by water - it is the angle between a rainbow and the antisolar point.

* The light leaving a rainbow is spread over a wide angle, with a maximum intensity around 42°

* The number of minutes it would take a theoretical "gravity train" to travel to any point on earth.

And so on...

Answer 4

Nothing particularly special about it. Its not a prime or a square of a whole number etc. I think it was chosen for comic effect because there is nothing special about it and its meant to be the ultimate answer.
edit: Thankyou for your question as I have now looked at the wikipedia links before and am amazed. I have not had enough respect for this number. It changes the way I interpret the book!

Answer 5

It was a day of 1942
when columbus sailed the ocean blue.

well it was actually 1492. but then u won't get the # 42 out of that

Answer 6

specifically circumstances solid human beings out sort undesirable human beings even nevertheless it is likewise marvelous that many times undesirable human beings out sort solid human beings. those days politicians in many of the international places are corrupt and are in majority.

Answer 7

They finally figure out that it is just the answer to 'what is seven times six'.

People come close to figuring it out several times throughout the series, but they all think it's too obvious to be the correct answer.

Answer 8

According to Don Adams, it's the answer to everything.