2017
2017 is the year gravitational waves from a neutron star merger were observed with light.
- Odd
- Prime
Where 2017 fits
Why 2017 is special
For the first time an event was detected in both gravitational waves and the electromagnetic spectrum, confirming that such mergers produce heavy elements including gold.
2017 is part of
Factors & digit properties
- Divisors (2)
- 1, 2017
- Prime factorisation
- 2017
- Digit sum
- 10
- Digital root
- 1
Representations
- Decimal
- 2017
- Scientific notation
- 2.017 × 10^3
Roman numerals
M M X V I I
Binary
1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1
1 × 1,024 + 1 × 512 + 1 × 256 + 1 × 128 + 1 × 64 + 1 × 32 + 0 × 16 + 0 × 8 + 0 × 4 + 0 × 2 + 1 × 1 = 2,017
Octal
3 7 4 1
3 × 512 + 7 × 64 + 4 × 8 + 1 × 1 = 2,017
Hexadecimal
7 e 1
7 × 256 + e × 16 + 1 × 1 = 2,017
Read as powers of two: 1,024 + 512 + 256 + 128 + 64 + 32 + 1 = 2,017.
In historical numeral systems
Egyptian
2 lotuses, 1 hobble, 7 strokes
2 × 1,000 + 1 × 10 + 7 × 1 = 2,017. The signs are simply repeated and added; where they sit on the line is a matter of layout, not value.
Babylonian
3 corner wedges + 3 vertical wedges (sixties place), 3 corner wedges + 7 vertical wedges (units place)
33 × 60 + 37 = 2017. 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
Related numbers & connections
2017 is a year in the 21st century, in the 2010s.
Gravitational waves and light from the same 2017 neutron star merger, then the first black hole image in 2019. Both are cases of combining instruments to observe what one alone could not.
View 2019 →Science
In 2017, gravitational waves from a neutron-star merger were detected alongside light from the same event.
DocumentedScienceGeography: globalPeriod: 2017A 2017 neutron star merger was detected as gravitational waves and then observed by telescopes worldwide. It confirmed that such collisions forge heavy elements, which means the gold in circulation was made this way.
DocumentedSciencePeriod: 2017
Common questions
Is 2017 a prime number?
Yes, 2017 is prime — it has exactly two positive divisors: 1 and itself.
What are the factors of 2017?
The factors of 2017 are 1, 2017.
What is 2017 in Roman numerals?
2017 in Roman numerals is MMXVII.
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