56 (fifty-six) is the natural number following 55 and preceding 57.

56 is:

• The sum of the first six triangular numbers (making it a tetrahedral number).^[1]
• The number of ways to choose 3 out of 8 objects or 5 out of 8 objects, if order does not matter.
• The sum of six consecutive primes (3 + 5 + 7 + 11 + 13 + 17)
• a tetranacci number^[2] and as a multiple of 7 and 8, a pronic number.^[3] Interestingly it is one of a few pronic numbers whose digits in decimal also are successive (5 and 6).
• a refactorable number, since 8 is one of its 8 divisors.
• The sum of the sums of the divisors of the first 8 positive integers.^[4]
• A semiperfect number, since 56 is twice a perfect number.
• A partition number – the number of distinct ways 11 can be represented as the sum of natural numbers.
• An Erdős–Woods number, since it is possible to find sequences of 56 consecutive integers such that each inner member shares a factor with either the first or the last member.^[5]
• The only known number n such that φ(n − 1)σ(n − 1) = φ(n)σ(n) = φ(n + 1)σ(n + 1), where φ(m) is Euler's totient function and σ(n) is the sum of the divisor function, see OEIS: A244439.
• The maximum determinant in an 8 by 8 matrix of zeroes and ones.
• The number of polygons formed by connecting all the 8 points on the perimeter of a two-times-two-square by straight lines.^[6]

Plutarch^[7] states that the Pythagoreans associated a polygon of 56 sides with Typhon and that they associated certain polygons of smaller numbers of sides with other figures in Greek mythology. While it is impossible to construct a perfect regular 56-sided polygon using a compass and straightedge, a close approximation has recently been discovered which it is claimed^[8] might have been used at Stonehenge, and it is constructible if the use of an angle trisector is allowed since 56 = 2³ × 7.^[9]

• The symbol of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
• Brazilian politician, Enéas Carneiro has an odd way of repeating the number of his party, "Fifty-Six" (cinquenta e seis, in Portuguese), making it a widely repeated jargon in his country.

• According to Aristotle, 56 is the number of layers of the Universe – Earth plus 55 crystalline spheres above it.^[10]