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2350 BCE, the older Sumerian curviform numerals were replaced with cuneiform symbols, with 1 and 60 both represented by the same mostly vertical symbol. 1 is an odd number which is uniquely neither prime nor composite. For example, although science is divided into many areas of specialization, scientists recognize the unity of the natural world and the underlying unity of the sciences. In the religious world, most of today’s major religions teach of a single, common God, and the importance of unity among people based on our common humanity. Culturally, people generally recognize that strength derives from unity and weakness is a product of disunity.

Symbols and representation

The aphorism “United we stand, divided we fall” is often used in team competitions, and its value is demonstrated by experience. Also, in any 1-800accountant login competition, from sports to academics, the person or team who is judged to be the best is given the rank of Number One.

It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sports, where it commonly denotes the first, leading, or top thing in a group. 1 is the unit of counting or measurement, a determiner for singular nouns, and a gender-neutral pronoun. Historically, the representation of 1 evolved from ancient Sumerian and Babylonian symbols to the modern Arabic numeral. In mathematics, 1 is the multiplicative identity, meaning that any number multiplied by 1 equals the same number.

Modern typefaces

Also, the number one is a coveted number in practically every competition, as the champion is ranked as “Number One.” One is the most common leading digit in many sets of data, a consequence of Benford’s law. One was formerly considered prime by some mathematicians, using the definition that a prime is divisible only by one and itself. However, this complicates the fundamental theorem of arithmetic, so modern definitions exclude units.

Group 1 in the periodic table of elements consists of the alkali metals, which commonly have a valence of +1. Also, period 1 in the periodic table consists of the two elements hydrogen and helium. By definition, 1 is the magnitude or absolute value of a unit vector and a unit matrix (more usually called an identity matrix). Note that the term unit matrix is usually used to mean something quite different.

• In some European countries (e.g., Germany) the little serif at the top is sometimes extended into a long upstroke, sometimes as long as the vertical line, which can lead to confusion with the glyph for seven in other countries.
• The number one signifies unity, such as the unity of the natural world, and, by extension, unity of the sciences.
• 2350 BCE, the older Sumerian curviform numerals were replaced with cuneiform symbols, with 1 and 60 both represented by the same mostly vertical symbol.

Glyph origin

It is also the first and second numbers in the Fibonacci sequence, and is the first number in many mathematical sequences. As a matter of convention, Sloane’s early Handbook of Integer Sequences added an initial 1 to any sequence that didn’t already have it, and considered these initial 1’s in its lexicographic ordering. The number one signifies unity, such as the unity of the natural world, and, by extension, unity of the sciences.

In science and technology

For instance, studies in ecology demonstrate the interdependence of living organisms with one another and with the inanimate environment, thus forming a united whole. In addition, other interdisciplinary sciences (such as earth science, geophysics, biochemistry) demonstrate the unity of the sciences. Likewise, various technologies play interactive and interdependent roles with one another and with the sciences, such as in the development of technologies for transportation, communications, agriculture, and energy generation. Because of the multiplicative identity, if f(x) is a multiplicative function, then f(1) must equal 1. Tenth century “West Arabic” variation of the Nepali form of Hindu-Arabic numerals (compare Devanagari script १ (1, “éka”)), possibly influenced by Roman numeral Ⅰ, both ultimately from using a single stroke to represent the number one. In chemistry, 1 is the atomic number of hydrogen, the smallest chemical element.

• In addition, other interdisciplinary sciences (such as earth science, geophysics, biochemistry) demonstrate the unity of the sciences.
• In mathematics, 1 is the multiplicative identity, meaning that any number multiplied by 1 equals the same number.
• In mathematics, the number 1 is the natural number1 that follows 0 and precedes 2.
• Tenth century “West Arabic” variation of the Nepali form of Hindu-Arabic numerals (compare Devanagari script १ (1, “éka”)), possibly influenced by Roman numeral Ⅰ, both ultimately from using a single stroke to represent the number one.
• Also, the number one is a coveted number in practically every competition, as the champion is ranked as “Number One.”
• 1 is an odd number which is uniquely neither prime nor composite.

In digital technology, 1 represents the “on” state in binary code, the foundation of computing. Philosophically, 1 symbolizes the ultimate reality or source of existence in various traditions. In mathematics, the number 1 is the natural number1 that follows 0 and precedes 2. It is an integer and a cardinal number, that is, a number that is used for counting.2 In addition, it is classified as a real number,3 distinguishing it from imaginary numbers. The number 1 is also known as the “identity element” of multiplication (or multiplicative identity)—any number multiplied by one is itself.

See below for interesting mathematical facts about the number 1 from the Numbermatics database. One is often the internal representation of the Boolean constant true in computer systems. Sometimes, tallying is referred to as “base 1,” since only one mark (the tally) is needed, but this is not a positional notation. While the shape of the 1 character has an ascender in most modern typefaces, in typefaces with text figures the character usually is of x-height, as, for example, in . The need for unity is also recognized as a goal with practical value.

The last professional mathematician to publicly label 1 a prime number was Henri Lebesgue in 1899. The Gupta wrote it as a curved line, and the Nagari sometimes added a small circle on the left (rotated a quarter turn to the right, this 9-look-alike became the present day numeral 1 in the Gujarati and Punjabi scripts). In some European countries (e.g., Germany) the little serif at the top is sometimes extended into a long upstroke, sometimes as long as the vertical line, which can lead to confusion with the glyph for seven in other countries. Where the 1 is written with a long upstroke, the number 7 has a horizontal stroke through the vertical line. One is important for computer science, because the binary numeral system uses only ones and zeroes to represent numbers. In machine code and many programming languages, one means “true” (or “yes”) and zero means “false” (or “no”).