Why the Number 12 Matters: Its Importance and Uses in Everyday Life
You must have heard your teacher say that your break will start at 12 or that you have scored 12 marks on your test. But do you know what is 12? In Mathematics, the number 12 represents a particular quantity. It is a natural number that lies between 11 and 13. It is two more than 10. In words, 12 can be written as ‘twelve.’ In Roman Numerals, twelve is written as XII.
What is 12?
We can write twelve in the place value chart as:
Let us read more interesting things about what is 12. We have also prepared a fun practice activity for you. In the end, we will sing a song together to remember what is 12.
Things Available in Group of 12's
12 months in a year
There are 12 months in a year.
In astrology, there are 12 signs in the Western and the Chinese zodiac.
An analogue clock has 12 hours visible on its face.
12:00 hours when the sun shines is called midday or noon, and 12:00 hours when the moon shines in the beautiful sky is called midnight.
12 hours visible on a clock
A dozen is a quantity that contains 12 things.
A gross contains 12 dozen.
There are 12 inches in a foot.
A group of 12 things is called a ‘duodecad.’
There are 12 face cards in a deck.
Normally, there are 12 pairs of ribs in the human body.
Most the keyboards of a computer have 12 Function Keys.
Do You Know?
12 is a composite number, an even number, a natural number, and a whole number.
12 is the smallest number that has exactly six divisors, which are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12.
Regular cubes and cuboids have 12 edges.
In Indian schooling, the classes typically end at the 12 standard.
In English, 12 is the largest number with only one syllable.
Only 12 people have walked on the moon so far.
There are 12 stars on the flag of Europe.
Jesus had 12 disciples.
It's Activity Time!
Solve these problems related to what is 12, and then we will sing a song!
Q1. Write the number of objects in each column. Then write ‘Yes’ if these objects are 12 in number and ‘No’ if they are not.
Q2. Complete the following problems.
9 + ____ = 12
____ - 8 = 12
____ X 4 = 12
24 ÷ ____ = 12
Sing a Song!
Let us sing a small song to understand ‘what is 12’ in a fun way!
Twelve months in a year.
Twelve school girls cry a cheer.
Twelve spots on a little deer.
They are all twelve! Did you hear?
Conclusion
Do you understand what is 12? Now, you will know how many bananas there are in a dozen whenever you go out for grocery shopping. If you want to know more mathematical concepts, explore through our page.
You will find a treasure full of interesting maths topics in an easy and fun way.
FAQs on Fascinating Facts About the Number 12 in Mathematics
1. What is a fun fact about the number 12?
A fun fact about the number 12 is that it is considered a highly composite number, which means it has more divisors (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12) than any smaller positive integer. This unique property has contributed to its historical and cultural significance in mathematics and beyond.
2. What makes 12 so special?
The number 12 is special because it is both a composite and abundant number with practical uses in various systems. For example:
- There are 12 months in a year, reflecting the lunar cycles.
- Time is divided into 2 sets of 12 hours each (AM and PM).
- A dozen equals 12, a popular unit for grouping objects.
3. Why is 12 such a special number?
The number 12 is special due to its mathematical versatility and cultural importance. Mathematically, it has several divisors ($1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12$), making it ideal for splitting objects or quantities evenly. Additionally, 12 is extensively used in day-to-day life, such as in measurement systems (12 inches in a foot) and grouping items into dozens, which can be explored in Vedantu's engaging mathematics lessons.
4. What is important about 12?
The importance of the number 12 can be seen in many educational and practical contexts:
- It is the base of the duodecimal system, an alternative to the decimal system.
- Many timekeeping methods, like clocks, utilize 12 divisions.
- Topics involving 12 (dozens, multiples, factors) are foundational across various math curricula at Vedantu.
5. What are some interesting mathematical properties of the number 12?
The number 12 has many notable mathematical properties:
- It is a Harshad number because it is divisible by the sum of its digits ($1 + 2 = 3$ and $12 \div 3 = 4$).
- 12 is the smallest number with exactly six divisors: $1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12$.
- It is a highly composite number, meaning it has more divisors than any smaller number.
6. How is the number 12 used in daily life?
The number 12 is commonly encountered in daily life, such as:
- Grouping items (a dozen eggs, pencils, etc.)
- Time representation (12 hours on a clock face; 12 months in a year)
- Measurement systems (12 inches in a foot)
7. What are some historical facts about the number 12?
Historically, the number 12 has held great significance:
- Ancient civilizations like the Sumerians and Babylonians used base-12 counting systems.
- There are 12 signs of the zodiac and 12 Olympian gods in Greek mythology.
- Many traditional groups are structured in twelves, such as 12 jurors or 12 disciples.
8. Why is 12 called a dozen and how does this benefit mathematical grouping?
The term dozen signifies a group of 12. It originates from the French word "douzaine" meaning "a group of twelve." Grouping objects in dozens makes mathematical operations, like multiplication and division, simpler due to the large number of divisors of 12. Vedantu often uses dozens in math problems to help students understand division and factors efficiently.
9. Can you explain how the number 12 is used in fractions and measurements?
The number 12 is ideal for fractions and measurements because it is divisible by 2, 3, 4, and 6. This allows easy splitting into halves, thirds, quarters, or sixths, making it perfect for teaching fractions. In measurement, there are 12 inches in a foot, commonly used in maths curriculum at Vedantu to teach concepts of length and division.
10. How does Vedantu use the number 12 to teach divisibility and multiplication concepts?
At Vedantu, teachers use the number 12 to help students grasp divisibility, multiplication tables, and factorization. Since 12 can be evenly divided by several numbers, students practice breaking down problems like $12 \div 4 = 3$ or $12 = 2 \times 2 \times 3$ using fun activities and real-life examples, reinforcing strong mathematical fundamentals.
