Why is the answer 42?

Answer 1

The answer to the Ultimate Question of Life the Universe and Everything was first said to be 42 in Douglas Adams' scifi comedy book The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. As stated in the book, the Ultimate Answer does not make sense without the Ultimate Question which, due to a series of unfortunate and astronomically unlikely events, is never discovered.

Answer 2

Because the question asked .

What is 2 x 21.

HA!

Clearly he does not understand the question.

The answer 42 was claimed by Douglas Adams to have been chosen because it is a number one could introduce to their parents, and has no meaning whatsoever.

Most people refuse to believe this however, and actor Stephen Fry claims that Adams explained to him exactly why, and that the reason is "fascinating, extraordinary and, when you think hard about it, completely obvious."

Many have theorized as to why 42 is the answer.

Some say it is a simple tribute to the indefatigable paper-back book, hypothesising this because 42 is supposedly the average number of lines on an average page of an average paperback book.

Others believe it is a play on words and that "forty-two", is actually meant to be "for tea, two" meaning that the ultimate answer is to enjoy life with others.

If there was an answer, as Stephen Fry claims, we may never know, as he has vowed to take the meaning to his grave.

Despite the ambiguity of the great answer, Douglas did make one thing very clear, that one cannot understand the answer until they understand the question.