Abstract

Introduction An integer n ? 1 is said to be a prime number (or simply prime) if the only divisors of n are \Sigma1 and \Sigman. There are infinitely many prime numbers, the first four being 2, 3, 5, and 7. If n ? 1 and n is not prime, then n is said to be composite. The integer 1 is neither prime nor composite. The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic states that every positive integer can be expressed as a finite (perhaps empty) product of prime numbers, and that this factorization is unique except for the ordering of the factors. Table 1.1 has some sample factorizations. 1990 = 2 \Delta 5 \Delta 199 1995 = 3 \Delta 5 \Delta 7 \Delta 19 2000 = 2 4 \Delta 5 3 2005 = 5 \Delta 401

Citations