16

The number 16 is a natural number following 15 and preceding 17. It is a composite number, and a square number, being 42 = 4 × 4. It is the smallest number with exactly five divisors, its proper divisors being 1, 2, 4 and 8.

Here are some interesting facts about the number 16:

• There are 16 ounces in an avoirdupois pound.
• There are 16 pawns in a chess set and each player in a chess game starts with sixteen pieces.
• The number 16 is sometimes confused with the number 60, as they sound very similar.

The number 16 is used in different fields, including:

• Music: The number 16 is the number of steps in the average bar of music in a 4/4 musical arrangement.
• Technology: The Roland TR-808 drum machine has 16 buttons that light up representing 16 16th notes making up a drum pattern.
• History: The year 16 was a significant year in history, as it was the year that the Roman Empire began to decline.