36 is both the square of six, and the eighth triangular number[1] or the sum of the first eight non-zero positive integers, which makes 36 the first non-trivial square triangular number.[2] Aside from being the smallest square triangular number other than 1, it is also the only triangular number (other than 1) whose square root is also a triangular number. 36 is also the eighth refactorable number, as it has exactly nine positive divisors, and 9 is one of them;[3] in fact, it is the smallest positive integer with at least nine divisors, which leads 36 to be the 7th highly composite number.[4] It is the sum of the fourth pair of twin-primes (17 + 19),[5] and the 18th Harshad number in decimal, as it is divisible by the sum of its digits (9).[6]
Since it is possible to find sequences of 36 consecutive integers such that each inner member shares a factor with either the first or the last member, 36 is an Erdős–Woods number.[11]
36 is the number of characters required to store the display name of a UUID or GUID (e.g., 00000000-0000-0000-C000-000000000046).
In religion
Jewish tradition holds that the number 36 has had special significance since the beginning of time: According to the Midrash, the light created by God on the first day of creation shone for exactly 36 hours; it was replaced by the light of the Sun that was created on the Fourth Day.[16] The Torah commands 36 times to love, respect and protect the stranger.[16] Furthermore, in every generation there are 36 righteous people (the "Lamed Vav Tzadikim") in whose merit the world continues to exist.[16] In the modern celebration of Hanukkah, 36 candles are kindled in the menorah over the eight days of that holiday (not including the shamash candle).[16]
In one Māori legend, concerning the creation of mankind by the god Tāne, 36 gods took active part in assembling the various parts of the first human before Tāne breathed life into her.[17]
In Shaivism (s.a. Kaśmir Śaivism), The 36 tattvas describe the Absolute, its internal aspects and the creation including living beings, down to the physical reality.
In Egyptian religion, the 36 decans are a series of gods presiding over the degrees of the zodiac and the fixed stars.[18]
Traditional Hindu marriage bases compatibility on a set of 36 astrological qualities or Gunas, 18 of which must be shared if the union is to be considered auspicious.
In the arts, culture, and philosophy
36 Views of Mount Fuji, a famous series of prints by Japanese ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai
The game of roulette has 36 numbers on the number layout and roulette wheel (together with a 0 or 00 depending on whether it is a European wheel 37 or American wheel 38)
The roulette based game Rollorpoker uses 36 playing cards on the wheel and playing grid, instead of numbers.