What the heck is a "prime number"?

Question

I'm a math retard so any help is appreciated

Answer 1

A numbe divisible by 1 and itself, like 17, 31, 11

Answer 2

A prime number is a positive integer that has exactly two positive integer factors, 1 and itself. For example, if we list the factors of 28, we have 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, and 28. That's six factors. If we list the factors of 29, we only have 1 and 29. That's 2. So we say that 29 is a prime number, but 28 isn't.
Another way of saying this is that a prime number is a whole number that is not the product of two smaller numbers.

Note that the definition of a prime number doesn't allow 1 to be a prime number: 1 only has one factor, namely 1. Prime numbers have exactly two factors, not "at most two" or anything like that. When a number has more than two factors it is called a composite number.

Here are the first few prime numbers:


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, 101, 103, 107, 109, 113, 127, 131, 137, 139, 149, 151, 157, 163, 167, 173, 179, 181, 191, 193, 197, 199, etc.

Answer 3

From Wikipedia: "In mathematics, a prime number (or a prime) is a natural number that has exactly two (distinct) natural number divisors, which are 1 and the prime number itself. There exists an infinitude of prime numbers, as demonstrated by Euclid in about 300 B.C.. The first 30 prime numbers are 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, 101, 103, 107, 109, and 113"

...and thanks for the easy points. ;-)

Answer 4

A number is prime when it can only be divided by itself or 1 and have a whole number. So, for example:

2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17...

Answer 5

Prime number, a whole number that cannot be divided without a remainder by any whole number except itself and 1.
The numbers 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 13 are prime numbers.
4, 6, 9 are composite numbers. Clear as mud ?

Answer 6

A prime number is only divisible by one and the number itself
Examples: 1, 2, 3,5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31......

Answer 7

a prime number is a number that can't be divided. for example, 5 is a prime number because is doesn't didvide evenly. but 9 is NOT a prime number because you can divide by 3. hope i was some help

Answer 8

a prime number is like an odd but it doesnt work like an odd number it is every number that doesnt have more then 1 facter like for example 3*1=3 and no other number times a number equals three right?? so there is an exampla of how to get a prime number here is soe prime numbers...... 2,3,5,7,11,13,17,19.... and so on

Answer 9

Actually, a prime number as a number that can only be divided EVENLY by 1 or itself.

Answer 10

A prime number is a number that is only divisible by itself and one.