Prime Numbers

A prime number is an integer greater than or equal to one, that is divisible without remainder only by itself and the number one. Integers that are not prime numbers are composite numbers. They are numbers formed by the multiplication of two or more prime numbers. Sometimes it is convenient to break composite numbers into their lowest prime multiples. When working with common fractions it is good to know the prime multiples of the composite numbers in order to reduce the fraction. If the denominator is a prime number, then the fraction is not reducible. Primeness is a property of the number itself and is not dependent on the system of numeration. The same numbers are prime in the binary, octal or decimal systems. Very large prime numbers are important today in the field of computer data encryption. Mathematicians are constantly working to find the next largest prime number.

The prime numbers under one hundred are 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97.

The composite numbers under eleven broken down into the multiplication of two or more prime numbers are 2 x 2 = 4, 3 x 2 = 6, 2 x 2 x 2 = 8, 3 x 3 = 9, 2 x 5 = 10.

Math Mysteries: There are some interesting unexplained properties about prime numbers. One of these special properties is the fact that that there is a series of twin primes within the prime numbers that appear to continue into infinity. These pairs of numbers are two numbers apart. No one has been able to prove that they occur continuously.