UCLA group discovers massive prime number

Firestormalpha · 09-27-2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

LOS ANGELES - Mathematicians at UCLA have discovered a 13-million-digit prime number, a long-sought milestone that makes them eligible for a $100,000 prize.

The group found the 46th known Mersenne prime last month on a network of 75 computers running Windows XP. The number was verified by a different computer system running a different algorithm.

"We're delighted," said UCLA's Edson Smith, the leader of the effort. "Now we're looking for the next one, despite the odds."

I'm all for the pursuit of knowledge, but I have to ask, Why search for bigger and bigger prime numbers? (Well technically not "prime numbers" but "Mersenne primes") But all the same, what's the purpose?

Variol (Farseer) Elmwood · 09-27-2008, 04:26 PM

That's odd... ..get it

dplax · 09-27-2008, 04:30 PM

Cryptography has uses for them.

Bungleau · 09-27-2008, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Variol (Farseer) Elmwood

That's odd... ..get it

Not always, my friend... not always

Variol (Farseer) Elmwood · 09-27-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bungleau

Not always, my friend... not always

Really??

I thought they had to be odd. ..course I don't know what Mersenne means.

Firestormalpha · 09-27-2008, 07:19 PM

Well, the first regular prime number is 2. An even number.

It was explained to me in algebra that 1 is technically not a prime. Because one is itself.

Bungleau · 09-27-2008, 08:05 PM

Points to FSA. Two is the only even number which is also a prime number.

As for what a Mersenne Prime is, a bit of googling found this:

Quote:

What are Mersenne primes? How are they useful?

A Mersenne prime is a prime number of the form 2P-1. There are 46 known Mersenne primes. The first few values of P which yield a Mersenne prime are 2, 3, 5, 7, 13 (the corresponding primes are 3, 7, 31, 127, 8191). A Lucas-Lehmer primality test is used to determine if 2P-1 is prime. For further information, visit Chris Caldwell's superb web page on Mersenne primes.

Finding new Mersenne primes is not likely to be of any immediate practical value. This search is primarily a recreational pursuit. However, the search for Mersenne primes has proved useful in development of new algorithms, testing computer hardware, and interesting young students in math.

So a Mersenne prime is apparently a special subset of primes.

Hmph. Still doesn't make it much more useful...

Variol (Farseer) Elmwood · 09-27-2008, 09:18 PM

I think your quote says it all. It does create interest "and" we can actually find it! That's cool.

Firestormalpha · 09-27-2008, 09:39 PM

Better than imaginary numbers, which for all practical purposes don't really exist. (again, quoting a highschool math teacher)

Just read wiki on the issue of imaginary numbers, apparently there are some practical applications for imaginary numbers. Well, highschool teachers are allowed to be wrong every so often. Of course it doesn't help them when they're provided out of date text books to work with.

Kakero · 09-28-2008, 01:00 AM

So what's the number?

09-27-2008, 04:26 PM	#2
Variol (Farseer) Elmwood Jack Burton Join Date: May 16, 2003 Location: Dartmouth, NS Canada Age: 60 Posts: 5,634	Re: UCLA group discovers massive prime number That's odd... ..get it __________________ A MAN WHO WANTS FOR NOTHING HAS INFINITE WEALTH. (me)

09-27-2008, 04:30 PM	#3
dplax Jack Burton Join Date: July 19, 2003 Location: an expat living in France Age: 40 Posts: 5,577	Re: UCLA group discovers massive prime number Cryptography has uses for them. __________________

09-27-2008, 07:19 PM	#6
Firestormalpha Knight of the Rose Join Date: July 11, 2002 Location: Coral Springs, Fl USA Age: 41 Posts: 4,454	Re: UCLA group discovers massive prime number Well, the first regular prime number is 2. An even number. It was explained to me in algebra that 1 is technically not a prime. Because one is itself. __________________ "When you start with a presupposition, it's hard to arrive at any other conclusion." "We are never to judge a philosophy by its abuse." - Augustine "If you're wondering if God has a sense of humor, consider the platypus." http://www.greaterthings.cbglades.com

09-27-2008, 09:18 PM	#8
Variol (Farseer) Elmwood Jack Burton Join Date: May 16, 2003 Location: Dartmouth, NS Canada Age: 60 Posts: 5,634	Re: UCLA group discovers massive prime number I think your quote says it all. It does create interest "and" we can actually find it! That's cool. __________________ A MAN WHO WANTS FOR NOTHING HAS INFINITE WEALTH. (me)

09-27-2008, 09:39 PM	#9
Firestormalpha Knight of the Rose Join Date: July 11, 2002 Location: Coral Springs, Fl USA Age: 41 Posts: 4,454	Re: UCLA group discovers massive prime number Better than imaginary numbers, which for all practical purposes don't really exist. (again, quoting a highschool math teacher) Just read wiki on the issue of imaginary numbers, apparently there are some practical applications for imaginary numbers. Well, highschool teachers are allowed to be wrong every so often. Of course it doesn't help them when they're provided out of date text books to work with. __________________ "When you start with a presupposition, it's hard to arrive at any other conclusion." "We are never to judge a philosophy by its abuse." - Augustine "If you're wondering if God has a sense of humor, consider the platypus." http://www.greaterthings.cbglades.com Last edited by Firestormalpha; 09-27-2008 at 09:54 PM.

09-28-2008, 01:00 AM	#10
Kakero 40th Level Warrior Join Date: March 24, 2002 Posts: 10,215	Re: UCLA group discovers massive prime number So what's the number?

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