196
196 is the smallest number suspected never to produce a palindrome by reverse-and-add.
Where 196 fits
Why 196 is special
Reverse the digits, add, repeat: almost every number reaches a palindrome quickly. 196 has been carried past a billion digits without producing one, and no proof exists either way. It is the smallest candidate Lychrel number.
196 is part of
Factors & digit properties
- Divisors (9)
- 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 28, 49, 98, 196
- Prime factorisation
- 2^2 × 7^2
- Digit sum
- 16
- Digital root
- 7
Representations
- Decimal
- 196
- Binary
- 11000100
- Octal
- 304
- Hexadecimal
- c4
- Roman numeral
- CXCVI
- Scientific notation
- 1.960 × 10^2
Other mathematical patterns
- Abundant number
- Powerful number
Related numbers & connections
Both are digit-reversal curiosities. 1089 always works and is a parlour trick; 196 has resisted a billion digits of computation and is an open problem.
View 1089 →Other connections
- contrasts with1089
why?
Strength 0.50, confidence "high".
Mathematics
Reverse a number's digits and add; repeat. Nearly everything reaches a palindrome in a few steps. 196 has been pushed past a billion digits without one, and nobody has proved it never will. The problem needs no background to understand and remains unsolved.
DocumentedMathematics
Common questions
Is 196 a prime number?
No, 196 is not prime.
What are the factors of 196?
The factors of 196 are 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 28, 49, 98, 196.
What is 196 in Roman numerals?
196 in Roman numerals is CXCVI.
About this page's data
Mathematical facts:computed directly from the number's value — nothing to source or verify externally.
Contextual records: 1 reviewer-confirmed record, sourced and reviewed before publication.
Last reviewed: 3 August 2026