Exploring the Fascination with Prime Numbers

The speaker, a mathematician, shares a personal story about discovering a love for numbers in childhood. The talk explores the concept of prime numbers, their properties, and historical discoveries. It highlights the significance of prime numbers in modern computing and scientific research, emphasizing the role of distributed computing in future discoveries.

What was the speaker's profession before he got into breakfast radio?

• A teacher

• A mathematician

• A scientist

• A writer

What did the speaker's teacher, Miss Russell, say that sparked his interest in numbers?

• Math is important

• You can't put a square peg into a round hole

• Numbers are everywhere

• Numbers are fun

What analogy did the speaker use to describe putting a square peg into a round hole?

• Like pouring water into a cup

• Like threading a needle

• Like fitting a puzzle piece

• Like putting a piece of toast through a basketball hoop

What are prime numbers?

• Numbers that are odd

• Numbers that can be divided by 2

• Numbers that can only be divided by 1 and themselves

• Numbers that are even

Which of the following is NOT a prime number?

• 19

• 31

• 7

• 6

Who proved that there is an infinite number of prime numbers?

• Euclid

• Leonhard Euler

• Isaac Newton

• Rene Descartes

What form do most of the largest known prime numbers take?

• 3 raised to a prime number minus 1

• 3 raised to an even number minus 1

• 2 raised to a prime number minus 1

• 2 raised to an even number minus 1

Who proved that 2 to the 127 minus 1 is a prime number?

• Leonhard Euler

• Euclid

• Lucas

• Rene Descartes

What is one reason why testing massive primes is important?

• It helps in solving algebra problems

• It tests the power and speed of new computer chips

• It is used in daily life calculations

• It helps in learning basic arithmetic

What is the GIMPS project?

• A project to develop new computer chips

• A project to find extraterrestrial life

• A project to search for RNA patterns

• A project to find giant prime numbers