Why Do We Need a 23 Million Digit Prime Number?

Finding the biggest prime number might not only have applications in computing, it could also win you some serious money. Here’s how.

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How a FedEx employee discovered the world’s largest prime number
“Pace first became interested in searching for primes back in 2003, when he read an article about the discovery of the 40th known Mersenne prime— a special kind of prime number, and a rare, numerical creature.”

Largest prime number ever found has over 23 million digits
“The new prime number, known as M77232917, is one million digits larger than the previous record. It is also a particularly rare type of prime called a Mersenne prime, meaning that it is one less than a power of two.”

Welcome to GIMPS, the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search
“GIMPS was founded in 1996 by George Woltman. The software ran on Intel i386 systems using hand-tuned assembly code for the critical calculations, resulting in highly optimized Lucas-Lehmer code. It wasn't long before GIMPS had its first discovery in November of that same year, showing the effectiveness of distributed computing in harnessing spare computer cycles in a coordinated effort.”

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[BobMcCoy]

*Password Requirements in 2020 be like*

[Master_Therion]

You know what will really transform the world? When we find the Optimus Prime.

[nidhigoyal]

It's more like a lottery than Bitcoin mining.

[SPcamert]

My coworker said "Shouldn't the prize also be a prime number?"

[aitbeq]

The information about the prize for 100M digit prime is a little misleading. It is not that simple. The prize of 150000$ is offered by another organization not GIMPS. If you happen to find that number using GIMPS software, they will award you with 50000$ and submit the number to that organization that originally offered the prize. You may think, well, I will submit directly to original organization and get my 150000$. Not that simple. The rules to get the 150000$ is to publish a paper about finding the number and getting it reviewed and confirmed. GIMPS will take all that work to itself and reward you with 50000$ almost immediately, while the other way may take you years to get your hands on triple the bounty.

[YourselfAndEye]

Girlfriend: "What's your screen unlock password?"

Me:

[kujmous]

In binary, 2^n - 1 is written with 1 written n times. If n were not prime (if it were 12 perhaps), then the number is divisible by any 2^m - 1 where m divides n (2, 3, 4, and 6). This is why Mersenne primes require prime exponents.

[TommoCarroll]

As Mallory said: *"Because it's there"*

[hardiksharma]

Friend: Give me your password (While holding a gun on my head)





Me, an intellectual:

[avochanneladrianvalolonan]

Prime numbers remind me of the sci-fi horror movie "Cube". Underrated gem

[Nightmare.]

I watched the whole video and understand nothing haha I'm so smart

[pierreabbat]

They're also used for (non-cryptographic) pseudo-random numbers. The Mersenne Twister is a generator that consists of an LFSR whose period is a Mersenne prime.

[TheTechAdmin]

1:03 because you still have your silhouette here, I thought someone was standing behind me and almost broke my neck with how fast I whipped my head around.

[Mothalas]

The number 23 was always my favorite number. I never knew why. I always wondered why it was important. I would say 23. When asked why I would say I don’t know. As time went on I likes how 23 was lebron James number when I was into basketball. When I was into space and science I liked it cause the earth was on a 23 degree angle so perfectly that we have seasons and the earth has the ability to sustain life. As time went on I saw it more and more. Videos I watched where 23 mins long. My dad won 10k dollars from the loto from playing the number 23. It just creeps it’s way into my life. It’s so strange. Btw I am not born on the 23. But my dad mum am all 3 grandparents are.
April 23
August 23
November 23
December 23
My dad won the loto on the 23 of November. It is so strange.
And now a 23 million didgit prime number W H A T

[Scarletraven]

To get the grasp of 23 million digits, I had to think that we never hear of numbers past the 9 digits.

[azizuladnan]

Oh my, I haven't heard the term "Prime Number" since like... a year ago XD

[RevJynxed]

It's not like they're hidden, they're just too damn big to prove.

[kazutohonouin]

I didnt get it, can someone explain to me what is this prime and why it is cost that much... Yup the video said it use for encryption.. But how?

[drewviz]

Tony Stark: Hey Strange, what are you doing?
Dr. Strange: I was looking at all possible futures of the fight.
Tony Stark: How many did you find?
Dr. Strange:
Tony Stark: How many did we win?
Dr. Strange: 1
Tony Stark: So basically we have possibilities of losing.

[ankitk]

You want the largest prime number ?Hold my bear, let me grab a calculator.