"Prime numbers." Projects in mathematics. Number 34.
The largest Prime Number ?
20,996,011
2 -1
On November 17, 2003 Michael Shafer's computer found the 40th known Mersenne prime, 2^20,996,011 - 1 ! This number "weighs in" at a whopping 6,320,430 decimal digits! This at the time is the largest known prime number, surpassing the previous largest prime number by over 2 million digits.
Here is a report of the discovery dated 17 November 2003
The 40th Known Mersenne Prime Found!!
You can download the program for your chance at finding the next world record prime! A forum for newcomers is available to answer any questions you may have. The website is http://www.mersenne.org/prime.htm
Congratulations to Michael and every GIMPS contributor for their part in this amazing discovery. For more information, check out these links:
This NewScientist article was one of the first to break the news.
Eric Weisstein's fabulous mathworld web site also published an article within an hour of the announcement.
ZDNet has also written an interesting piece on the new discovery.
Chris Caldwell, who maintains the Internet's premier web site on prime numbers, writes a unique article every time GIMPS finds a new prime.
The BBC, Lansing State Journal, and Michigan papers also wrote stories.
Scott Kurowski, who runs the server that controls GIMPS' massive CPU power, wrote this press release.
Finally, Perfectly Scientific, Dr. Crandall's company which developed the FFT algorithm used by GIMPS, makes a poster you can order containing the entire 6,320,430 digits. It is kind of pricey because accurately printing an over-sized poster in 1-point font is not easy! Makes a great present for the serious math nut in your family.
Make Math History!!
You could discover one of the most coveted finds in all of Mathematics - a new Mersenne prime number. We've found six already. Join in on this fun, yet serious research project. All you need is a personal computer, patience, and a lot of luck.
In addition to the joy of making a mathematical discovery, you might win some cash. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is offering a $100,000 award to the first person or group to discover a ten million digit prime number! See how GIMPS will distribute this award if we are lucky enough to find a ten million digit prime.
What are Mersenne primes and why do we search for them?
Prime numbers have long fascinated amateur and professional mathematicians. An integer greater than one is called a prime number if its only divisors are one and itself. The first prime numbers are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, etc. For example, the number 10 is not prime because it is divisible by 2 and 5. A Mersenne prime is a prime of the form 2P-1. The first Mersenne primes are 3, 7, 31, 127, etc. There are only 40 known Mersenne primes.
GIMPS, the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search, was formed in January 1996 to discover new world-record-size Mersenne primes. GIMPS harnesses the power of thousands of small computers like yours to search for these "needles in a haystack".
Most GIMPS members join the search for the thrill of possibly discovering a record-setting, rare, and historic new Mersenne prime. Of course, there are many other reasons.
A new discovery!!
A new largest Prime!!
There has been discovered a new largest Prime number!
It was discovered on May 15th of last year (2004).
Research the latest largest Prime ! What number is it?
Who found it? How was it found? Why can't it be written down?
What is special about the number? What is its last digit?
Start with http://www.mersenne.org/prime.htm
Believe it or not but a new largest Prime number has just been discovered!
It was discovered 2 weeks ago on 18 Feb 2005. The numbers is 2^25964951 - 1 and has 7 816 230 digits. It is the 42nd Mersenne Prime. What is its last digit?
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