Why do we need to study/know about prime numbers? What are they good for?
2006-10-05 10:29:47 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Apart from cryptography :
Most computers have a so-called "random number generator" which will churn out a series of apparently unrelated numbers on a series of calls. Of course the numbers are strictly related by a formula inside the routine, and the formula includes one large number. It turns out that if you put a prime number here, the output is much more scattered and unpredictable than if you put a composite number. So it is useful to know which numbers are prime.
2006-10-06 00:36:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi:
Only four I know of
1. Cryptology - code and ciphers
2. Mathematical fun & puzzles
3. Find square root of numbers and a factor other number to see if they are prime or not
4) Interstellar greetings from the human race to say that there is something that has intellences to other intellence races with this as proof because there are no known natural process that can generate prime numbers.
2006-10-05 12:59:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cryptography.
2006-10-05 10:31:35 · answer #3 · answered by Answers1 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the larger ones make very difficult to decode but easy to transmit passwords.
(my password is the 99th prime number. go ahead, figure it out)
2006-10-05 12:25:46 · answer #4 · answered by davidosterberg1 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To drive the parents crazy who have to help their kids with this kind of homework.
2006-10-05 10:34:49 · answer #5 · answered by pcgirl2006 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋