8 (Eight)

8, called siddeed in Somali, is a natural number that follows 7 and precedes 9. It is one of the basic counting numbers and is written as '8' in the Hindu-Arabic numeral system. In Roman numerals it is written VIII.

Eight is an even number, since it is divisible by two with no remainder. It is also the third power of two, that is 2 × 2 × 2 = 8. For this reason it holds particular importance in computer mathematics.

Mathematical Properties

The divisors of 8 are 1, 2, 4, and 8. The sum of the divisors smaller than the number itself is 1 + 2 + 4 = 7, which is less than 8; for this reason 8 is a deficient number. 8 is the cube of 2. It is also the Fibonacci number that follows 5 and 3.

Computer Science

A byte typically consists of 8 bits. This means that a single byte can represent 256 different values. The octal numeral system is based on the radix 8 and uses the digits 0 through 7.

Geometry

A polygon with eight sides is called an octagon. The three-dimensional shape with eight triangular faces is an octahedron; the cube has eight vertices.

Other Uses

Eight appears in many aspects of daily life: the octave in music, various calendar systems and measurements, and certain cultural practices in which the number holds symbolic meaning. In some East Asian cultures, 8 is associated with prosperity, which influences attitudes toward numbers.