Pankaj Khanna
9424810575
January 1, 2023 is about to hit! How is the number 2023!? Not so interesting, eh!? Na!! Numbers can never be uninteresting. Well, 2023 is a Harshad Number! (It has nothing to do with Harshad Mehta or any other person having Harshad name!)
Harshad numbers are fairly common. Still they remain 'Harshad' to all Recreational Maths lovers.
A natural number which is divisible by the sum of its digits is called a Harshad Number. The first few Harshad Numbers are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 18, 20, 21, 24, ... (To know more about this sequence click on the sequence no.: A005349).
For example, number 12 is a Harshad Number because sum of the digits 1 and 2 is 3 and 12 is divisible by 3. Similarly 2023 is divisible by sum of digits (2+0+2+3=7). Hence 2023 is a Harshad Number.
Prime Factors of 2023= 7x17x17. As it does not have three distinct Prime factors; it is not a Sphenic Number. It has 3 'lucky' 7's. Just an observation. They are not going to change your luck for sure! Innocuous, lovely digits and Numbers can delight you but not change your fate!!
Harshad Numbers were first studied by Indian Mathematician Dattatreya Ramchandra Kaprekar (गणितानंद दत्तात्रेय रामचंद्र कापरेकर 1905-1986) who is lesser known in India but is widely celebrated throughout the world among the Recreational Maths enthusiasts. He described several types of Natural Numbers like Kaprekar Numbers, Self Numbers , Devlali Numbers, Demlo Numbers and Harshad Numbers. He also discovered a Mathematical constant which is now known as Kaprekar's Constant. We will discuss about him, other numbers and Kaprekar's Constant in a separate blog post on his Birthday, super soon.
He not only contributed in Recreational Mathematics but also gave such an interesting Sanskrit/Hindi name 'Harshad' to equally interesting set of numbers! Even if not interested in such numbers; Indians should take pride in the achievements of our own mathematician Shri Dattatray Kaprekar.
Harshad is a Sanskrit and Hindi word meaning : Giving Joy. हर्षद मतलब हर्ष देने वाला।
He used to call himself ankamitra- अंकमित्र; meaning “friend of numbers”. Although Kaprekar was mostly unknown outside the field of recreational mathematics in his lifetime; his work and its impact on number theory have thankfully become widely recognized in recent years.
He has commented about his love of Numbers in this manner : “A drunkard wants to go on drinking wine to remain in that pleasurable state. The same is the case with me in so far as numbers are concerned.”
Welcome 2023! Sincerely hope it truly becomes Harshad and brings joy and happiness in your and your family's lives.
Let us also delve deep in the world of Numbers and get high without spending on alcohol and without bothering about the hangover of next morning! Let us also be open to new learnings in the coming year!
Celebrate the number, celebrate the new year, celebrate the life! Wishing you a very-very Happy New Year! 🤗🙏
(To see my other blog articles on Maths; please click on the link Web Version below this post.)
Pankaj Khanna
9424810575
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Additional Note for my dear Students of IMS Indore:
A few years back a student of mine was asked in an IIM Interview about Kaprekar Constant as he had shown his hobby as 'Studying Numbers' in his Resume.
Expectedly, he could answer as he was very inquisitive and was seeking knowledge from all sources he could reach to beyond regular classes. It made him a bit more confident & relaxed and he could crack the interview very smoothly.
Indulging in Numerolatry ( worshipping of Numbers) and Epeolatry (worshipping of words) will definitely help you in achieving your goal of landing in one of the Top Management Institutes. Cruising through the backwaters of Mathematics is quite entertaining and surely rewarding too. Keep cruising!
Take time out and relax a bit. Time to enjoy. Nothing wrong in celebrating New year. Go Celebrate and have a blast!
I too was a young man once upon a time:) You may wish to read my experience of New Year celebration on 31st December 1984 by clicking on the link given below:
Pankaj Khanna
9424810575
