Found in the private files of Zaphod Beeblebrox, 23,005,895 years after his supposed death.

The secret of 42

This is a study of President Zaphod Beeblebrox in his last hours. I am now lying on my death bed, awaiting the coming of the Great Zambini. The journey that I and my friends took in the ship Heart of Gold in my infant years as Galaxy's President, made the discovery of the largest computer in the universe. It was made to calculate the answer. The ultimate answer. The answer, to Life, the Universe, and Everything.

The answer was given. It was 42. The answer, to all things, to Life, the Universe, and Everything, was 42. But the makers of the computer failed to ask the question. They had the answer. But to what question was the answer referring to?

In my exhaustive research, along with my great friend and writer for the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Ford Prefect, I believe I have found the question. No longer will beings all over the universe be troubled by not knowing what question 42 is the answer of.

Here is my list, leading to the ultimate question. All research was done with the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, 42,244,224th edition.

1. There are 42 species of sentient beings in the galaxy.

2. The 42nd, according to the HGttG, is the Grimagriphone, on the planet Grimagri.

3. Grimagri was the birthplace of the founder of HGttG, Ardgith Dreth.

4. Ardgith Dreth's initials are the same as Arthur Dent's.

5. Arthur Dent is my friend.

6. Another of my friends is Klipung Nui, who is a Jupikiliopftyskaghithtoo wrestler.

7. Jupikiliopftyskaghithtoo has 24 letters.

8. 24 is 42 backwards.

9. Zaphod Beeblebrox backwards is Xorbelbeeb Dohpaz.

10. Xorbelbeeb Dohpaz is the name of the dominate species on the planet Jayto.

11. Jayto is the name of a Shryne Plant.

12. Shryne is the codeword for entering into the executive office of the HGttG headquarters.

13. The HGttG headquarters is 74,088 miles above sea level.

14. 74,088 is divisible by 42. It is 1,764.

15. 1,764 is also divisible by 42. It is 42.

16. 42 + 42 + 42 126.

17. 126 is the length of my house, in feet.

18. I have two feet.

19. Xorbelbeeb Dohpaz's have 983,257 feet.

20. 983,257 is the number of X chromosomes in Jupikiliopftyskaghithtoo's

21. X is the 24th letter in the alphabet.

22. 24 backwards is 42.

23. 42 is the number of apples that grow per tree on the planet Ookupealipydel.

24. Ookupealipydel's letters rearranged spell "Do you like Apples?", the national anthem of Jayto.

Q. Do you like Apples?

A. 42.

There you go.