1978
1978 is the year the first baby conceived by IVF was born.
- Even
- Composite
Where 1978 fits
Why 1978 is special
The technique was widely condemned before it worked and is now responsible for millions of births. Robert Edwards received the Nobel Prize in 2010; Patrick Steptoe had died in 1988 and the prize is not awarded posthumously.
Factors & digit properties
- Divisors (8)
- 1, 2, 23, 43, 46, 86, 989, 1978
- Prime factorisation
- 2 × 23 × 43
- Digit sum
- 25
- Digital root
- 7
Representations
- Decimal
- 1978
- Binary
- 11110111010
- Octal
- 3672
- Hexadecimal
- 7ba
- Roman numeral
- MCMLXXVIII
- Scientific notation
- 1.978 × 10^3
Other mathematical patterns
- Deficient number
Related numbers & connections
The first heart transplant in 1967 and the first IVF birth in 1978 were both condemned before they worked and became routine afterwards.
View 1967 →Science
IVF was denounced as unethical before the first birth in 1978 and now accounts for a substantial share of births in several countries. The trajectory from moral panic to standard medicine took about a generation.
DocumentedScienceGeography: EnglandPeriod: 1978
Common questions
Is 1978 a prime number?
No, 1978 is not prime.
What are the factors of 1978?
The factors of 1978 are 1, 2, 23, 43, 46, 86, 989, 1978.
What is 1978 in Roman numerals?
1978 in Roman numerals is MCMLXXVIII.
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