the difference between even
squares and triangular numbers (
1024 − 136).
Heronian tetrahedron
888 is the 42nd longest side of a
Heronian tetrahedron,[9] whose
edge lengths, face
areas and
volumes are all
integers; more specifically it is the second-largest longest side of a primitive Heronian tetrahedron (after
203, and preceding
1804)[a] with four congruent triangle
faces (this primitive Heronian tetrahedron is a tetrahedron where four edges share no common
factor).[18]
Decimal properties
888 is the smallest multiple of twenty-four divisible by all of its digits,[19] whose
digit sum is also itself.[20]
It is a
happy number in
decimal, meaning that repeatedly summing the squares of its digits eventually leads to 1:
8883 = 700227072 is the smallest
cube in which each digit occurs exactly three times,[21] and the only cube in which three distinct digits each occur three times.[22]
Symbolism and numerology
The number 888 is often symbolised within the international labour movement to symbolise the 8-hour day. Workers protested for 8 hours work, 8 hours rest and 8 hours time to themselves.
In some
Christiannumerology, the number 888 represents
Jesus, or sometimes more specifically Christ the Redeemer. This representation may be justified either through
gematria, by counting the letter values of the
Greek transliteration of Jesus' name,[23] or as an opposing value to
666, the
number of the beast.[24] The numerological representation of Jesus with the number 888, as the sum of the numerical values of the letters of his name, was condemned by the Church father
Irenaeus as convoluted and an act which reduced "the Lord of all things" to something alphabetical.[25]
In
Chinese numerology, 888 usually means triple fortune, due to 8 (pinyin: bā) sounds like 發(pinyin: fā) of 發達 (prosperity), and triplet of it is a form of strengthening of the digit 8. On its own, the number 8 is often associated with great fortune, wealth and spiritual enlightenment. Hence, 888 is considered triple.[26] For this reason, addresses and phone numbers containing the digit sequence 888 are considered particularly lucky, and may command a premium because of it.[27]