1997
1997 is the year Hong Kong was transferred from British to Chinese sovereignty.
- Odd
- Prime
Where 1997 fits
Why 1997 is special
The handover on 1 July ended 156 years of British rule under a treaty framework promising a distinct system for fifty years. 1997 is also the year a chess computer first beat a reigning world champion in a match, which is referenced almost as often.
1997 is part of
Factors & digit properties
- Divisors (2)
- 1, 1997
- Prime factorisation
- 1997
- Digit sum
- 26
- Digital root
- 8
Representations
- Decimal
- 1997
- Binary
- 11111001101
- Octal
- 3715
- Hexadecimal
- 7cd
- Roman numeral
- MCMXCVII
- Scientific notation
- 1.997 × 10^3
Other mathematical patterns
- Deficient number
- Twin prime
Related numbers & connections
Deep Blue beat the world chess champion in 1997 and AlphaGo beat a top Go professional in 2016. The nineteen-year gap is a direct consequence of the difference in board size.
View 2016 →The Paris Agreement of 2015 lets each state set its own targets and achieved universal participation; earlier binding approaches did not. Enforceability and participation traded against each other.
View 2015 →History
Hong Kong transferred from British to Chinese sovereignty on 1 July 1997, ending 156 years of British rule under a framework promising a distinct system for fifty years. 1997 is also when a chess computer first beat a reigning world champion in a match.
DocumentedHistoryGeography: Hong KongPeriod: 1 July 1997
Common questions
Is 1997 a prime number?
Yes, 1997 is prime — it has exactly two positive divisors: 1 and itself.
What are the factors of 1997?
The factors of 1997 are 1, 1997.
What is 1997 in Roman numerals?
1997 in Roman numerals is MCMXCVII.
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