Why is Sesame Street's Count von Count's favorite number 34,969?

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8












$begingroup$


In the 2 minute BBC News audio clip Sesame Street: What is Count von Count's favourite number? "The Count" is asked




Do you have a favorite number?




to which he replied




Thirty four thousand, nine hundred and sixty nine. It's a square root thing.




Does the number 34,969 have any particularly notable properties that would make it "The Count"'s favorite number?



enter image description here






Revelations from the world of counting from the late Jerry Nelson, the voice of Count von Count, who was interviewed by Tim Harford to mark Sesame Street's 40th anniversary in 2009.



Photo: Count von Count attends Macy's Thanksgiving Parade 2018 Credit: Getty Images



Release date: 01 February 2019
Duration: 2 minutes











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  • $begingroup$
    Well, $34969 = 187^2$.
    $endgroup$
    – jvdhooft
    1 hour ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    To go the other way $34969 = sqrt{1222830961}$. I think we just have to accept that this was just a dry joke. Given infinite numbers it's funny if one's favorite number is something arbitrary. And it's funnier if one gives a reason that, although not incorrect, reveals little.
    $endgroup$
    – fleablood
    58 mins ago
















8












$begingroup$


In the 2 minute BBC News audio clip Sesame Street: What is Count von Count's favourite number? "The Count" is asked




Do you have a favorite number?




to which he replied




Thirty four thousand, nine hundred and sixty nine. It's a square root thing.




Does the number 34,969 have any particularly notable properties that would make it "The Count"'s favorite number?



enter image description here






Revelations from the world of counting from the late Jerry Nelson, the voice of Count von Count, who was interviewed by Tim Harford to mark Sesame Street's 40th anniversary in 2009.



Photo: Count von Count attends Macy's Thanksgiving Parade 2018 Credit: Getty Images



Release date: 01 February 2019
Duration: 2 minutes











share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Well, $34969 = 187^2$.
    $endgroup$
    – jvdhooft
    1 hour ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    To go the other way $34969 = sqrt{1222830961}$. I think we just have to accept that this was just a dry joke. Given infinite numbers it's funny if one's favorite number is something arbitrary. And it's funnier if one gives a reason that, although not incorrect, reveals little.
    $endgroup$
    – fleablood
    58 mins ago














8












8








8


3



$begingroup$


In the 2 minute BBC News audio clip Sesame Street: What is Count von Count's favourite number? "The Count" is asked




Do you have a favorite number?




to which he replied




Thirty four thousand, nine hundred and sixty nine. It's a square root thing.




Does the number 34,969 have any particularly notable properties that would make it "The Count"'s favorite number?



enter image description here






Revelations from the world of counting from the late Jerry Nelson, the voice of Count von Count, who was interviewed by Tim Harford to mark Sesame Street's 40th anniversary in 2009.



Photo: Count von Count attends Macy's Thanksgiving Parade 2018 Credit: Getty Images



Release date: 01 February 2019
Duration: 2 minutes











share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$




In the 2 minute BBC News audio clip Sesame Street: What is Count von Count's favourite number? "The Count" is asked




Do you have a favorite number?




to which he replied




Thirty four thousand, nine hundred and sixty nine. It's a square root thing.




Does the number 34,969 have any particularly notable properties that would make it "The Count"'s favorite number?



enter image description here






Revelations from the world of counting from the late Jerry Nelson, the voice of Count von Count, who was interviewed by Tim Harford to mark Sesame Street's 40th anniversary in 2009.



Photo: Count von Count attends Macy's Thanksgiving Parade 2018 Credit: Getty Images



Release date: 01 February 2019
Duration: 2 minutes








prime-numbers radicals






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asked 1 hour ago









uhohuhoh

4811516




4811516












  • $begingroup$
    Well, $34969 = 187^2$.
    $endgroup$
    – jvdhooft
    1 hour ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    To go the other way $34969 = sqrt{1222830961}$. I think we just have to accept that this was just a dry joke. Given infinite numbers it's funny if one's favorite number is something arbitrary. And it's funnier if one gives a reason that, although not incorrect, reveals little.
    $endgroup$
    – fleablood
    58 mins ago


















  • $begingroup$
    Well, $34969 = 187^2$.
    $endgroup$
    – jvdhooft
    1 hour ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    To go the other way $34969 = sqrt{1222830961}$. I think we just have to accept that this was just a dry joke. Given infinite numbers it's funny if one's favorite number is something arbitrary. And it's funnier if one gives a reason that, although not incorrect, reveals little.
    $endgroup$
    – fleablood
    58 mins ago
















$begingroup$
Well, $34969 = 187^2$.
$endgroup$
– jvdhooft
1 hour ago




$begingroup$
Well, $34969 = 187^2$.
$endgroup$
– jvdhooft
1 hour ago




2




2




$begingroup$
To go the other way $34969 = sqrt{1222830961}$. I think we just have to accept that this was just a dry joke. Given infinite numbers it's funny if one's favorite number is something arbitrary. And it's funnier if one gives a reason that, although not incorrect, reveals little.
$endgroup$
– fleablood
58 mins ago




$begingroup$
To go the other way $34969 = sqrt{1222830961}$. I think we just have to accept that this was just a dry joke. Given infinite numbers it's funny if one's favorite number is something arbitrary. And it's funnier if one gives a reason that, although not incorrect, reveals little.
$endgroup$
– fleablood
58 mins ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















6












$begingroup$

There are some speculations in the following article:



https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-19409960



The following is taken verbatim from the link:




34,969 is 187 squared. But why 187?



More or Less turned to its listeners for help.



Toby Lewis noted that 187 is the total number of points on the tiles
of a Scrabble game, speculating that the Count might have counted
them.



David Lees noticed that 187 is the product of two primes - 11 and 17 -
which makes 34,969 a very fine number indeed, being 11 squared times
17 squared. What, he asked, could be lovelier?



And Simon Philips calculated that 187 is 94 squared minus 93 squared -
and of course 187 is also 94 plus 93 (although that would be true of
any two consecutive numbers, as reader Lynn Wragg pointed out). An
embarrassment of riches!



But both he and Toby Lewis hinted at darkness behind the Count's
carefree laughter and charming flashes of lightning: 187 is also the
American police code for murder.



Murder squared: was the Count trying to tell us something?







share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    1












    $begingroup$

    Curiously,
    $$sqrt{1234567890}=35136.418ldots$$
    which is kinda-sorta close to $34969$, although it doesn't seem close enough to make the joke work.



    Perhaps it's that $34969=187^2$ is the largest perfect square whose own square doesn't exceed $1234567890$ (since $sqrt[4]{1234567890} = 187.447ldots$).





    Considering how the Count counts, one might think his favorite number relates to
    $$12345678910$$
    It's perhaps worth noting that
    $$begin{align}
    sqrt{12345678910} &;=; 111,111.11ldots \
    sqrt[4]{12345678910} &;=; phantom{111,}333.33333ldots
    end{align}$$

    where I have conveniently truncated the digits for best effect.





    Unrelatedly: I've always been a little disappointed that the Count's full name is "Count von Count" instead of, say, "Count von Tuthrifore".






    share|cite|improve this answer











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      2 Answers
      2






      active

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      2 Answers
      2






      active

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      active

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      active

      oldest

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      6












      $begingroup$

      There are some speculations in the following article:



      https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-19409960



      The following is taken verbatim from the link:




      34,969 is 187 squared. But why 187?



      More or Less turned to its listeners for help.



      Toby Lewis noted that 187 is the total number of points on the tiles
      of a Scrabble game, speculating that the Count might have counted
      them.



      David Lees noticed that 187 is the product of two primes - 11 and 17 -
      which makes 34,969 a very fine number indeed, being 11 squared times
      17 squared. What, he asked, could be lovelier?



      And Simon Philips calculated that 187 is 94 squared minus 93 squared -
      and of course 187 is also 94 plus 93 (although that would be true of
      any two consecutive numbers, as reader Lynn Wragg pointed out). An
      embarrassment of riches!



      But both he and Toby Lewis hinted at darkness behind the Count's
      carefree laughter and charming flashes of lightning: 187 is also the
      American police code for murder.



      Murder squared: was the Count trying to tell us something?







      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$


















        6












        $begingroup$

        There are some speculations in the following article:



        https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-19409960



        The following is taken verbatim from the link:




        34,969 is 187 squared. But why 187?



        More or Less turned to its listeners for help.



        Toby Lewis noted that 187 is the total number of points on the tiles
        of a Scrabble game, speculating that the Count might have counted
        them.



        David Lees noticed that 187 is the product of two primes - 11 and 17 -
        which makes 34,969 a very fine number indeed, being 11 squared times
        17 squared. What, he asked, could be lovelier?



        And Simon Philips calculated that 187 is 94 squared minus 93 squared -
        and of course 187 is also 94 plus 93 (although that would be true of
        any two consecutive numbers, as reader Lynn Wragg pointed out). An
        embarrassment of riches!



        But both he and Toby Lewis hinted at darkness behind the Count's
        carefree laughter and charming flashes of lightning: 187 is also the
        American police code for murder.



        Murder squared: was the Count trying to tell us something?







        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$
















          6












          6








          6





          $begingroup$

          There are some speculations in the following article:



          https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-19409960



          The following is taken verbatim from the link:




          34,969 is 187 squared. But why 187?



          More or Less turned to its listeners for help.



          Toby Lewis noted that 187 is the total number of points on the tiles
          of a Scrabble game, speculating that the Count might have counted
          them.



          David Lees noticed that 187 is the product of two primes - 11 and 17 -
          which makes 34,969 a very fine number indeed, being 11 squared times
          17 squared. What, he asked, could be lovelier?



          And Simon Philips calculated that 187 is 94 squared minus 93 squared -
          and of course 187 is also 94 plus 93 (although that would be true of
          any two consecutive numbers, as reader Lynn Wragg pointed out). An
          embarrassment of riches!



          But both he and Toby Lewis hinted at darkness behind the Count's
          carefree laughter and charming flashes of lightning: 187 is also the
          American police code for murder.



          Murder squared: was the Count trying to tell us something?







          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$



          There are some speculations in the following article:



          https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-19409960



          The following is taken verbatim from the link:




          34,969 is 187 squared. But why 187?



          More or Less turned to its listeners for help.



          Toby Lewis noted that 187 is the total number of points on the tiles
          of a Scrabble game, speculating that the Count might have counted
          them.



          David Lees noticed that 187 is the product of two primes - 11 and 17 -
          which makes 34,969 a very fine number indeed, being 11 squared times
          17 squared. What, he asked, could be lovelier?



          And Simon Philips calculated that 187 is 94 squared minus 93 squared -
          and of course 187 is also 94 plus 93 (although that would be true of
          any two consecutive numbers, as reader Lynn Wragg pointed out). An
          embarrassment of riches!



          But both he and Toby Lewis hinted at darkness behind the Count's
          carefree laughter and charming flashes of lightning: 187 is also the
          American police code for murder.



          Murder squared: was the Count trying to tell us something?








          share|cite|improve this answer












          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer










          answered 1 hour ago









          PrismPrism

          4,89431878




          4,89431878























              1












              $begingroup$

              Curiously,
              $$sqrt{1234567890}=35136.418ldots$$
              which is kinda-sorta close to $34969$, although it doesn't seem close enough to make the joke work.



              Perhaps it's that $34969=187^2$ is the largest perfect square whose own square doesn't exceed $1234567890$ (since $sqrt[4]{1234567890} = 187.447ldots$).





              Considering how the Count counts, one might think his favorite number relates to
              $$12345678910$$
              It's perhaps worth noting that
              $$begin{align}
              sqrt{12345678910} &;=; 111,111.11ldots \
              sqrt[4]{12345678910} &;=; phantom{111,}333.33333ldots
              end{align}$$

              where I have conveniently truncated the digits for best effect.





              Unrelatedly: I've always been a little disappointed that the Count's full name is "Count von Count" instead of, say, "Count von Tuthrifore".






              share|cite|improve this answer











              $endgroup$


















                1












                $begingroup$

                Curiously,
                $$sqrt{1234567890}=35136.418ldots$$
                which is kinda-sorta close to $34969$, although it doesn't seem close enough to make the joke work.



                Perhaps it's that $34969=187^2$ is the largest perfect square whose own square doesn't exceed $1234567890$ (since $sqrt[4]{1234567890} = 187.447ldots$).





                Considering how the Count counts, one might think his favorite number relates to
                $$12345678910$$
                It's perhaps worth noting that
                $$begin{align}
                sqrt{12345678910} &;=; 111,111.11ldots \
                sqrt[4]{12345678910} &;=; phantom{111,}333.33333ldots
                end{align}$$

                where I have conveniently truncated the digits for best effect.





                Unrelatedly: I've always been a little disappointed that the Count's full name is "Count von Count" instead of, say, "Count von Tuthrifore".






                share|cite|improve this answer











                $endgroup$
















                  1












                  1








                  1





                  $begingroup$

                  Curiously,
                  $$sqrt{1234567890}=35136.418ldots$$
                  which is kinda-sorta close to $34969$, although it doesn't seem close enough to make the joke work.



                  Perhaps it's that $34969=187^2$ is the largest perfect square whose own square doesn't exceed $1234567890$ (since $sqrt[4]{1234567890} = 187.447ldots$).





                  Considering how the Count counts, one might think his favorite number relates to
                  $$12345678910$$
                  It's perhaps worth noting that
                  $$begin{align}
                  sqrt{12345678910} &;=; 111,111.11ldots \
                  sqrt[4]{12345678910} &;=; phantom{111,}333.33333ldots
                  end{align}$$

                  where I have conveniently truncated the digits for best effect.





                  Unrelatedly: I've always been a little disappointed that the Count's full name is "Count von Count" instead of, say, "Count von Tuthrifore".






                  share|cite|improve this answer











                  $endgroup$



                  Curiously,
                  $$sqrt{1234567890}=35136.418ldots$$
                  which is kinda-sorta close to $34969$, although it doesn't seem close enough to make the joke work.



                  Perhaps it's that $34969=187^2$ is the largest perfect square whose own square doesn't exceed $1234567890$ (since $sqrt[4]{1234567890} = 187.447ldots$).





                  Considering how the Count counts, one might think his favorite number relates to
                  $$12345678910$$
                  It's perhaps worth noting that
                  $$begin{align}
                  sqrt{12345678910} &;=; 111,111.11ldots \
                  sqrt[4]{12345678910} &;=; phantom{111,}333.33333ldots
                  end{align}$$

                  where I have conveniently truncated the digits for best effect.





                  Unrelatedly: I've always been a little disappointed that the Count's full name is "Count von Count" instead of, say, "Count von Tuthrifore".







                  share|cite|improve this answer














                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer








                  edited 8 mins ago

























                  answered 19 mins ago









                  BlueBlue

                  48.1k870153




                  48.1k870153






























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