The numbers.

[TED]

Ok, so since I'm pursuing the numbers issue, I thought I'd start a thread dedicated to discussing them. So let's begin, the numbers that are obviously key to solving the puzzle are 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42, because these numbers have shown up on the show in conspicous ways, although not always together. Mostly, they've shown up individually or in pairs, and this is why I'm considering the possibility that the numbers may each play an inividual role in determining what the entire sequence means. Actually, I shouldn't have said pairs, because as far as I know, there has only been one pair that has shown up conspicously, and that's 8 and 15. This pair has shown up a lot,

The name of the copying machine that Charlie was working with is called the Heatherton C815. By the way, is that a real brand of copier?

The deposit box at the bank that Kate was interested in was numbered 815.

The Oceanic Airlines Flight was of course flight number 815.

Boone was wearing a T-shirt that had the number 815 in Chinese characters.

8:15 is also the time that Sun left for the airport, where she was supposed to meet with her contact, who was helping her run away from Jin.

I'm sure there are more examples but those are all that I can think of presently. This shows that 815 has some sort of meaning, and if we could find out what that is, we would be one step closer to finding out what the entire sequence means. I did some amatuer math and I found that the the digits of 815, when added together, have a total of 14, which of course, is the same number of regular cast members on the show. Do I think that means anything, I doubt it, but there you have it anyway. As far as the individual numbers that seem to keep coming up, 23 has appeared a couple of times.

The reward for Kate's capture was $23,000.

Jack and Rose were seated in Row 23.

As far as the number 4 is concerned, it has come up quite a few times, but I can't remember them all, so from what I remember, we have,

Sawyer speaking of a birthday wish four years ago.

If I'm not mistaken, Charlie said that his band's big hit was four years ago.

Locke repeated his mantra, "Don't tell me what I can't do!," 4 times.

As far as the number 16 goes, like 23, it hasn't shown up much either, but we have,

The fact that Hurleys crazy friend, Lenny?, picked up the signal 16 years ago, when he was stationed in the south pacific.

If I'm not mistaken, Rousseu's expedition team was stranded on the island 16 years ago.

The pilot was discovered in the cockpit after 16 hours.

And I think the real interesting thing here is that 42 hasn't shown up at all that I know of. I've got a theory about this that I'm working on, but I don't want to devulge it yet, because I want to make sure that I'm actually on to something, and that I'm not just going to be spouting off at the mouth about another not so well thought out theory like I did with purgatory, heh. As far as any theories about the other numbers showing up repeatedly, I don't have a clue as of yet, well, except that 815 is very prevalent, so I think it's probably going to be intrigal to solving the mystery.

TED

[Lesa]

Locke repeated his mantra, "Don't tell me what I can't do!," 4 times.

Jack told Sun the exact same thing on tonight's episode (once), after Sun told him he can't save Boone's life. Don't know if that means anything, but thought I'd post it just in case.

[TED]

You never know what it might mean with this show, so good thinking Le. I just discovered something called the 23 Enigma, I find this very interesting and think it might have something to do with the secret of the island. Apparently, in numerology, the number 23 is believed to be very significant. It's believed by some to be a good omen, or lucky number, but some believe it's a bad omen, or cursed number. William Burroughs, a writer, has studied this supposed phenomenon, and he has collected a lot of data that seems to make the theory plausible. Here's a few examples to give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

When Burroughs was in Tangiers, he knew a Captain Clark who ran a ferry over to Spain. One day, Clark told Burroughs that he had been doing the route for 23 years without an accident. That day, the ferry sank . . .that evening, while Burroughs was thinking about the incident, a radio bulletin announced the crash of Flight 23 on the New York-Miami route. The pilot was another Captain Clark.

Burroughs realized as he was writing about Dutch Shultz, that the New York City gangster had put a contract out on 23-year-old Vincent 'Mad Dog' Coll, who met his end on 23rd St. Shultz himself died on October 23rd, 1935.

Speaking of October 23rd, Seventeenth century scholar Archbishop Ussher reckoned that the earth was created on October 23rd, 4004 BC, while the Mayans believed the world will end on December 23rd, 2012.

Hexagram 23 in the 'I Ching' oracle means "break apart." 23 in telegrapher's code means "break the line." Aleister Crowley defined number 23 as "parting, removal, separation, joy, a thread, and life".

Parents each donate 23 chromosomes to the fertilized egg. The human biorhythm cycle is generally 23 days, and it takes 23 seconds for blood to circulate through the human body.

British band, 'Cabaret Voltaire', started taking interest in the enigma when they toured Holland. In every hotel they stayed at, they had room 23, and the show they played on the 23rd of the month was a complete disaster. At any rate, you get the idea.

So if all of the numbers in the sequence have a numerological significance, then together, maybe they reveal some sort of message.

TED

[Lesa]

Interesting you should say that, since 8 and 4 appear to have significance. See * note below. Interesting discoveries on the number 23 itself.

Below I've included your list of common occurrences, and added my own in bold...


815

The name of the copying machine that Charlie was working with is called the Heatherton C815. By the way, is that a real brand of copier?

The deposit box at the bank that Kate was interested in was numbered 815.

The Oceanic Airlines Flight was of course flight number 815.

Boone was wearing a T-shirt that had the number 815 in Chinese characters. - Debunked *

8:15 is also the time that Sun left for the airport, where she was supposed to meet with her contact, who was helping her run away from Jin.

Regulation footballs were in aisle 8. Nerf footballs were in aisle 15.

Interestingly enough, issue #815 of Entertainment Weekly features Lost.

* The numbers on Boone's shirt were 8, 10, and 4.  8 is considered lucky in Chinese culture, and 4 is considered unlucky.

4

Sawyer speaking of a birthday wish four years ago.

If I'm not mistaken, Charlie said that his band's big hit was four years ago.

Locke repeated his mantra, "Don't tell me what I can't do!," 4 times.

Locke was in his wheelchair for 4 years.

Locke set up 4 traps to catch Ethan.

Locke banged on the hatch 4 times before it lit up.

There were 4 guns in the marshall's case.

Same Toome killed himself 4 years ago.

Boone brought 4 refills of Shannon's inhaler.

The psychic spent 4 months trying to convince Claire to raise her baby alone before giving her money telling her about the couple in L.A.

There were 4 planes on the mobile in Claire's dream.

Jack's fiance had four 4's on her shirt - 44 on front and 44 on back.

8

8 people died in Hurley's shoe factory fire.

Michael was hit by the car 8 years ago.

Michael worked in construction for 8 years.

Claire was 8 months pregnant when they crashed.

Driveshaft was going to tour for 8 weeks.

Some of the survivors moved to the caves after 8 days.

Sawyer was 8 years old when his dad killed himself and his mom.

15

There were 15 members on Rousseau's research team.

Boone flew 15 hours to rescue his sister.

16

The fact that Hurleys crazy friend, Lenny?, picked up the signal 16 years ago, when he was stationed in the south pacific.

If I'm not mistaken, Rousseu's expedition team was stranded on the island 16 years ago.

The pilot was discovered in the cockpit after 16 hours.

Jack's flight to bury his father was 16 hours.

23

The reward for Kate's capture was $23,000.

Jack and Rose were seated in Row 23.

On the watch that Michael gave to Jin, the minute hand is on 23.

42

The time on Jack's watch was 2:42

Claire was 6 weeks pregnant (42 days) when she found out

They estimated Adam and Eve as having been there 40 years. Could it actually be 42?


I thought it interesting to add, even though 48 isn't a number in the sequence itself:

If you add up all the digits in the full set of numbers:
4+8+1+5+1+6+2+3+4+2 (=36) along with Hurley's 156 million:
1+5+6 (=12) it all adds up to 48 (36+12) which is the initial number of survivors of flight 815.

Likewise, if you add up 4+8+15+16+23+42 (=108) and subtract that from hurley's 156 million (156-108) you also come up with 48. That's a little too coincidental to be coincidental, don't you think?

[Forever Xena]

Incredible and amazing

I am impressed with your findings ;D