Why do we need to know about prime numbers with millions of digits? #2⁷⁷²³²⁹¹⁷-1
This article from the Conversation dives into the quest for prime numbers. Prime numbers are crucial to encryption and private communication. The bigger the prime the safer the information:
An ongoing project – the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search – which aims to discover more and more primes of a particularly rare kind, has recently resulted in the discovery of the largest prime number known to date. Stretching to 23,249,425 digits, it is so large that it would easily fill 9,000 book pages. By comparison, the number of atoms in the entire observable universe is estimated to have no more than 100 digits.
The number, simply written as 2⁷⁷²³²⁹¹⁷-1 (two to the power of 77,232,917, minus one) was found by a volunteer who had dedicated 14 years of computing time to the endeavour.
Secrecy with prime numbers
One of the most widely used applications of prime numbers in computing is the RSA encryption system. In 1978, Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir and Leonard Adleman combined some simple, known facts about numbers to create RSA. The system they developed allows for the secure transmission of information – such as credit card numbers – online.
The primal quest
It is neither safer cryptosystems nor improving computers that drove the latest Mersenne discovery, however. It is mathematicians’ need to uncover the jewels inside the chest labelled “prime numbers” that fuels the ongoing quest. This is a primal desire that starts with counting one, two, three, and drives us to the frontiers of research. The fact that online commerce has been revolutionised is almost an accident.
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7:30pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat and our Discord!
Python for Microcontrollers – Adafruit Daily — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: CircuitPython 9.2.1, What is DMA, PyConUS 2025 and More! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
EYE on NPI – Adafruit Daily — EYE on NPI Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey
This table never existed and is not to be confused with the Sive of Eratosthenes….HERE is prime and New factorization method… this is Not to be confused with the Sive of Eratosthenes https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K9gKZNAWZ9M MANUALLY FACTOR ALL NUMBERS AND SPOT ALL PRIMES BETWEEN using GRADE FOUR MATH here is the table which needs a bit of editing.. http://ashesmi.yolasite.com/resources/Prime%20Sequence%20Serries%20With%20Pet%203.pdf please share! Get the elementary schools to teach this method please!
This table never existed and is not to be confused with the Sive of Eratosthenes….HERE is prime and New factorization method… this is Not to be confused with the Sive of Eratosthenes https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K9gKZNAWZ9M MANUALLY FACTOR ALL NUMBERS AND SPOT ALL PRIMES BETWEEN using GRADE FOUR MATH here is the table which needs a bit of editing.. http://ashesmi.yolasite.com/resources/Prime%20Sequence%20Serries%20With%20Pet%203.pdf please share! Get the elementary schools to teach this method please!