Some Facts about Prime Numbers

Prime Numbers as Communication Signals:

People think some alien creatures are trying to reach us via prime numbers. Carl Sagan claimed in 1985 that aliens were using prime numbers as signals to communicate with humans.

History of Prime Numbers:

The ancient Greeks studied prime numbers in 1550 B.C. Euclid was the first mathematician who studied prime numbers. He is known as father of geometry. Most of the basic knowledge of prime numbers was theorized by Euclid.

The Largest Prime Number:

The largest prime number known today is M82589933. This number was discovered in December 7, 2018 by Patrick Laroche with the help of a supercomputer.

Even Prime Number:

2 is the only prime number that is also an even number.

GIMPS:

The Great Internet Mersenne Prime Number Search (GIMPS) was founded in 1996. George Woltman was its founder. This organization has so far found 51 of the newest and largest prime numbers.

Sieve of Erastothenes Method:

By using this method, you can find out which numbers from 1 – 100 are prime. This method is explained as:

• List all numbers from 1 – 100.
• Erase 1.
• Encircle 2 and erase its all multiples (4, 6, 8, …).
• Encircle 3 and erase its all multiples (6, 9, 12, …).
• Encircle 5 and erase its all multiples.
• Continue this process. At the end, you will get only prime numbers.

Twin Primes:

If difference of two Prime numbers is 2, they are called twin primes.

Examples:

Each of the following pair is twin prime:

(3 , 5) , (5 , 7) , (11 , 13) , (17 , 19) , (29 , 31) , (41 , 43) , (59 , 61) , (71 , 73) , (101 , 103) , (107 , 109) , (137 , 139)

Semiprimes:

A natural number that is a product of two prime numbers is called semiprime.

Example (1):

4 is first semiprime because 4 = 2 x 2.

Example (2):

15 is next semiprime because 15 = 3 x 5.

Note:

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