Mythical number
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A mythical number is a number used and accepted as deriving from scientific investigation and/or careful selection, but whose origin is unknown and whose basis is unsubstantiated.
Famous examples include: the claim that we only use 10% of our brains, the recommendation to chew exactly 29 times, and the Five second rule.
The origins of such numbers are akin to those of urban legends and may include (among others):
- misinterpretation of examples
- extrapolation from apparently similar fields
- especially successful pranks
- comical results
- guess-estimates of public officials
- deliberate misinformation
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