74
74 is the atomic number of tungsten, the metal with the highest melting point of any element — which is why light-bulb filaments were made of it, and why tungsten carbide holds an edge in drill bits and machining tools.
- Even
- Composite
Where 74 fits
Why 74 is special
74's element, tungsten, holds a genuine scientific superlative: no other metal withstands higher temperatures before melting.
74 connects to:
- 37 — has factor
Same number, different meanings
How 74 is understood across different contexts — never implying one meaning because of another.
- Mathematics
74's element, tungsten, holds a genuine scientific superlative: no other metal withstands higher temperatures before melting.
- Everyday life
For most of the twentieth century element 74 was what a light bulb glowed with. Tungsten's melting point lets a filament run white-hot without failing, and coiling it into a coiled coil kept the heat in — the design that made incandescent lamps efficient enough to sell, from around 1910 until efficiency rules pushed them out. The same hardness at temperature is why tungsten carbide is used for cutting tools and drill bits.
- Technology & computing
Tungsten's hardest compound does more industrial work than the metal itself. Tungsten carbide is roughly twice as stiff as steel and holds an edge at temperatures that would soften it, which is why masonry drill bits, machining inserts and mining tools are made of it. The same hardness and density put it in armour-piercing rounds, and its wear resistance in jewellery.
- Science
74 is the atomic number of tungsten, which has the highest melting point of any metal. That is why it was the filament in incandescent bulbs, and why it survives in drill bits and furnace parts.
Factors & digit properties
- Divisors (4)
- 1, 2, 37, 74
- Prime factorisation
- 2 × 37
- Digit sum
- 11
- Digital root
- 2
Representations
- Decimal
- 74
- Scientific notation
- 7.400 × 10^1
Roman numerals
L X X I V
LXXIV uses the subtractive pair IV: one before five — five minus one.
Binary
1 0 0 1 0 1 0
1 × 64 + 0 × 32 + 0 × 16 + 1 × 8 + 0 × 4 + 1 × 2 + 0 × 1 = 74
Octal
1 1 2
1 × 64 + 1 × 8 + 2 × 1 = 74
Hexadecimal
4 a
4 × 16 + a × 1 = 74
Read as powers of two: 64 + 8 + 2 = 74.
In historical numeral systems
Egyptian
7 hobbles, 4 strokes
7 × 10 + 4 × 1 = 74. The signs are simply repeated and added; where they sit on the line is a matter of layout, not value.
Babylonian
1 vertical wedge (sixties place), 1 corner wedge + 4 vertical wedges (units place)
1 × 60 + 14 = 74. Places are separated by a space on the tablet, with the higher place written first.
Greek (Ionic)
omicron, then delta, marked as a numeral
omicron-delta + keraia
omicron + delta written in descending order and added — the letters carry their values wherever they stand, so this is addition, not place value.
Hebrew numerals
ayin, then dalet
ayin-dalet
ayin (70) + dalet (4) = 74, written in descending order.
Chinese numerals
qī shí sì
qī shí sì
七 before 十 multiplies it: 7 tens. 四 after it adds 4. The written form mirrors the arithmetic — "qī shí sì". The financial (anti-fraud) form is 柒拾肆.
Maya
3 dots (upper, twenties place) over 2 bars + 4 dots (lower, units place)
3 × 20 + 14 = 74. Places stack vertically with the smallest at the bottom, so the upper group is worth twenty times the lower.
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
- Semiprime
Related numbers & connections
37 is a factor of 74 (37 × 2 = 74).
View 37 →Mathematically related
- has factor37
why?
Strength 0.50, confidence "high".
Everyday life
For most of the twentieth century element 74 was what a light bulb glowed with. Tungsten's melting point lets a filament run white-hot without failing, and coiling it into a coiled coil kept the heat in — the design that made incandescent lamps efficient enough to sell, from around 1910 until efficiency rules pushed them out. The same hardness at temperature is why tungsten carbide is used for cutting tools and drill bits.
DocumentedEveryday lifePeriod: c.1910 – 2010s
Technology & computing
Tungsten's hardest compound does more industrial work than the metal itself. Tungsten carbide is roughly twice as stiff as steel and holds an edge at temperatures that would soften it, which is why masonry drill bits, machining inserts and mining tools are made of it. The same hardness and density put it in armour-piercing rounds, and its wear resistance in jewellery.
DocumentedTechnology & computing
Science
74 is the atomic number of tungsten, which has the highest melting point of any metal. That is why it was the filament in incandescent bulbs, and why it survives in drill bits and furnace parts.
DocumentedScience
Mathematics
74 = 2 × 37, sitting directly after the notable prime 73.
DocumentedMathematics
Common questions
Why were light bulb filaments made of tungsten?
Because it has the highest melting point of any metal, so a filament can run white-hot without failing. Early bulbs used carbon and lasted poorly; tungsten arrived around 1910 and, coiled into a coiled coil to hold the heat in, made incandescent lamps efficient enough to sell for the next century.
What is tungsten carbide used for?
Anything that has to stay sharp under heat and pressure: masonry drill bits, machining inserts, mining tools. It is about twice as stiff as steel and keeps its edge at temperatures that would soften it. The same hardness and density put it in armour-piercing ammunition, and its wear resistance has made it a jewellery material.
Is 74 a prime number?
No, 74 is not prime.
What are the factors of 74?
The factors of 74 are 1, 2, 37, 74.
What is 74 in Roman numerals?
74 in Roman numerals is LXXIV. IV is subtractive: one before five — five minus one. Written additively it would be LXXIIII, which Roman inscriptions used freely — the strict subtractive form is a later convention.
About this page's data
Mathematical facts:computed directly from the number's value — nothing to source or verify externally.
Contextual records: 4 reviewer-confirmed records, sourced and reviewed before publication.
Last reviewed: 15 July 2026