1663
1663 is the year the first known patent for a steam engine was granted.
- Odd
- Prime
Where 1663 fits
Why 1663 is special
Edward Somerset described a device for raising water by steam. Between his description and Newcomen's working engine lay half a century of engineering rather than of insight.
1663 is part of
Factors & digit properties
- Divisors (2)
- 1, 1663
- Prime factorisation
- 1663
- Digit sum
- 16
- Digital root
- 7
Representations
- Decimal
- 1663
- Scientific notation
- 1.663 × 10^3
Roman numerals
M D C L X I I I
Binary
1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 × 1,024 + 1 × 512 + 0 × 256 + 0 × 128 + 1 × 64 + 1 × 32 + 1 × 16 + 1 × 8 + 1 × 4 + 1 × 2 + 1 × 1 = 1,663
Octal
3 1 7 7
3 × 512 + 1 × 64 + 7 × 8 + 7 × 1 = 1,663
Hexadecimal
6 7 f
6 × 256 + 7 × 16 + f × 1 = 1,663
Read as powers of two: 1,024 + 512 + 64 + 32 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 1,663.
In historical numeral systems
Egyptian
1 lotus, 6 coils of rope, 6 hobbles, 3 strokes
1 × 1,000 + 6 × 100 + 6 × 10 + 3 × 1 = 1,663. The signs are simply repeated and added; where they sit on the line is a matter of layout, not value.
Babylonian
2 corner wedges + 7 vertical wedges (sixties place), 4 corner wedges + 3 vertical wedges (units place)
27 × 60 + 43 = 1663. Places are separated by a space on the tablet, with the higher place written first.
Systems that simply cannot reach this value are left out. Where a script needs a font most readers do not have, the reading is given instead of the glyphs — see number systems for each system in full.
Other mathematical patterns
- Deficient number
- Happy number
- Lucky number (mathematical sieve)
Related numbers & connections
1663 is a year in the 17th century, in the 1660s.
A steam engine was patented in 1663 and Savery's working pump followed in 1698. Between description and machine lay thirty-five years of engineering rather than insight.
View 1698 →Numbers Around Us
- appears inHistorical years
why?
Strength 0.50, confidence "high".
Other connections
- developed from1698
why?
Strength 0.50, confidence "high".
Technology & computing
In 1663, James Gregory described a reflecting telescope design, avoiding the colour fringing of lenses (Scotland).
DocumentedTechnology & computingGeography: ScotlandPeriod: 1663A steam-powered water-raising device was patented in 1663 and the first commercially successful engine ran in 1712. The gap was manufacturing capability rather than the underlying concept.
DocumentedTechnology & computingGeography: EnglandPeriod: 1663
Common questions
Is 1663 a prime number?
Yes, 1663 is prime — it has exactly two positive divisors: 1 and itself.
What are the factors of 1663?
The factors of 1663 are 1, 1663.
What is 1663 in Roman numerals?
1663 in Roman numerals is MDCLXIII.
About this page's data
Mathematical facts:computed directly from the number's value — nothing to source or verify externally.
Contextual records: 2 reviewer-confirmed records, sourced and reviewed before publication.
Last reviewed: 15 July 2026