12M Digit Prime Number Sets Record, Nets $100,000

coondoggie writes "A 12-million-digit prime number, the largest such number ever discovered, has landed a voluntary math research group a $100,000 prize from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). The number, known as a Mersenne prime, is the 45th known Mersenne prime, written shorthand as 2 to the power of 43,112,609, minus 1 . A Mersenne number is a positive integer that is one less than a power of two, the group stated. The computing project called the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search (GIMPS) made the discovery on a computer at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Mathematics Department."

Comments

Actually the 47th

[eldavojohn]

The number known as a Mersenne prime, is the 45th known Mersenne prime, written shorthand as 2 to the power of 43,112,609, minus 1

Wikipedia lists it as the 47th known prime.

Re:Actually the 47th

[gnasher719]

No, because not all Mersenne numbers are prime numbers. Example: 2 ^ 4 - 1 = 15 And 15 is divisible by both 3 and 5. It's highly unlikely for two Mersenne primes to be adjacent to each other as Mersenne numbers but not impossible. If you could verify your assertion, you might just be eligible. I'm guessing it's already been checked by no by GIMPS though.

Here's the complete list of all consecutive Mersenne numbers that are both primes: 3 = 2^2-1 and 7 = 2^3-1.

2^n-1 can only be a prime if n is a prime, because 2^(ab) - 1 is divisible by 2^a - 1 and 2^b - 1. And (2, 3) are the only two consecutive primes.

Re:Actually the 47th

[tholomyes]

Hmmmm.

Will knowing these numbers help me procreate before I die?

I don't know about the three or the seven, but the two certainly will... after all, it takes two to tango.

Re:Actually the 47th

[mcgrew]

Unfortunately, I'm afraid that knowing these numbers will prevent you from procreating before you die.

Re:Actually the 47th

[onemorechip]

It is the second largest prime: Both of all primes and Mersennes.

Wow, does that mean we're close to discovering the largest prime?

Man, oh, man...

[bennomatic]

The biggest prime number I know is 8675309. I'll have to tell Jenny about this new one.

Re:Sounds cool, but...

[ArhcAngel]

n00b

Re:so?

[kalirion]

Great,everyone starts using the new largest known prime number in their private key! That's like SUPER secure!

Re:woo

[Nibbler999]

The money does not come from regular donations.

http://www.eff.org/awards/coop

(Prize money comes from a special donation provided by an individual EFF supporter, earmarked specifically for this project. Prize money does NOT come from EFF membership dues, corporate or foundation grants, or other general EFF funds.)

What a wasted opportunity

[y5]

They could have made the reward $100,003 instead...

Re:What a wasted opportunity

[bitt3n]

They could have made the reward $100,003 instead...

yeah, brilliant idea. next day's headline would be "Five Mathematicians Slain in Argument Over Division of Prize Money"

Re:Sounds cool, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

Think about how easy it is for a computer to multiply together (2^43112609 - 1) and (2^13466917 - 1).

Then think about how long it would take a computer to identify the factors of the resulting number, given that it is composed of two primes with twelve and four million digits, respectively.

Cryptography is all about simple math operations that can be performed one way, but cannot be easily and quickly reversed without knowing a secret (in my example, one of the original primes).

Thank goodness it's voluntary

[handy_vandal]

A 12-million-digit prime number, the largest such number ever discovered, has landed a voluntary math research group a $100,000 prize from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).

"Voluntary" math research group? Is there any other kind?

I'm trying to imagine an "involuntary" math research group, and all I'm getting is scenes from dystopian science fiction ... or possibly a scene from the life of Léon Theremin.