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matqkks
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Why are prime numbers important in real life? What practical use are prime numbers?
janhaa said:Prime numbers give rise to various generalizations in other mathematical domains, mainly algebra, such as prime elements and prime ideals.
Borek said:Definitely a real life application.
For a mathematician it certainly is!Borek said:Definitely a real life application.
Borek said:Ask periodical cidacas why they use prime numbers for the cycle length.
The fact that the surviving periodical cicadas have life cycles built on prime numbers may have conferred key survival advantages. A prime-numbered lifespan means that predators cannot match their own shorter life cycles to the availability of cicada prey. For instance, if the cicadas had even-numbered lifespans, a predator with a two-year life cycle could expect a cicada feast, and a subsequent population bump, every few generations, because all even numbers are divisible by two. As explained in 2001 by a trio of researchers from the University of Chile and the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology in Germany, “a prey with a 12-year cycle will meet — every time it appears — properly synchronized predators appearing every 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 12 years, whereas a mutant with a 13-year period has the advantage of being subject to fewer predators.”
janhaa said:from Wikipedia:
Primes are used in several routines in information technology, such as public-key cryptography, which makes use of properties such as the difficulty of factoring large numbers into their prime factors.
SteveL27 said:Poor Hardy! He went to his grave proud of the uselessness of number theory. Strange that a discipline studied for millennia suddenly became useful only a couple of decades ago.
Prime numbers are used in cryptography, which is the science of secure communication. They are also used in computer algorithms for tasks such as data encryption and data compression. In addition, prime numbers are used in generating secure passwords and in creating unique identification numbers for products and individuals.
Prime numbers are fundamental building blocks in mathematics and number theory. They are used to study the distribution of numbers, to prove theorems, and to solve mathematical problems. Prime numbers are also used in the study of prime factorization, which is the process of breaking down composite numbers into their prime factors.
Yes, prime numbers have been used in art and music to create unique patterns and rhythms. For example, the Fibonacci sequence, which is a sequence of numbers where each number is the sum of the previous two numbers, is based on prime numbers and is often used in art and music to create aesthetically pleasing compositions.
Yes, there are several practical uses of prime numbers in everyday life. They are used in barcode scanners, credit card numbers, and in lottery systems. Prime numbers are also used in GPS systems to determine the location of a device and in creating secure internet connections.
Prime factorization is the process of breaking down composite numbers into their prime factors. This is important because it helps us understand the structure and properties of numbers. Prime numbers are the key components in prime factorization, and understanding their properties can help us solve complex mathematical problems and discover new mathematical concepts.