Prime numbers are numbers that can only be divided by one and themselves. They are unique in the universe of mathematics and have become excellent keys to the doors of cryptography, the art of writing or solving secret codes. No one has come up with a formula to find all of them, but there are a number of formulas that verify specific types; yes, even within primes there are unique groups.
The number two is the first prime number. It is significant because it is a part of a particular equation that determines a group of primes known as Mersenne primes, named after the famous French mathematician Marin Mersenne (1588-1648).
The Mersenne equation is 2n-1; where n is a prime and the result is also a prime. Now, don’t misunderstand. The equation isn’t supposed to tell us where the next prime is. It is only an equation that verifies a particular subset of these unique numbers.
I came across Mersenne primes by way of an article on NPR. It caught my attention because my life seems to be surrounded by primes. This fact was one pointed out by an elementary school teacher at an age when I was quite impressionable and keen on mathematics. It is something I will never forget. This article also caught my attention for its reference to the newest Mersenne uncovered. It is thirteen million digits long—and this isn’t even the longest!
I started to wonder if one could even plumb this Mersenne by counting to it. Assuming one could count a single number every second, then one-million seconds would be 11.5 days, and one-billion seconds would be more than 30 years. The newest Mersenne is more than one quadrillion. This would be impossible to count in one lifetime but, thanks to the Mersenne equation, may be plumbed, but in a different way.
We are constantly using numbers, seeing numbers, thinking of numbers, relating and experiencing them. Most of us don’t consciously think about numbers because they are so prevalent in our lives. Our subconscious does a fine job of interacting with them, keeping its business quiet unless we absolutely need to know. However, every now and again one falls from the mathematical sky and is dropped onto the field of our mind. We notice it because sometimes it is too big to go unnoticed.
Copyright © Tyler Gant 2009
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