- #1
FallenApple
- 566
- 61
It's very interesting that primes are considered the atoms of numbers, but yet, 1 isn't prime.
It makes sense because one isn't an "atom" for numbers in the multiplication sense. That is,
6=2*3
=1*2*3
=1*1*2*3
=1*...
So clearly 1 cannot be prime.
But in the addition sense, all numbers are made of ones. So in the addition sense, one is an "atom" for numbers.
But multiplication is just a special case of addition.
Is there something deeper going on here?
I know that by definition, 1 isn't prime. But what is the philosophical justification?
Could it be that the concept of a one as a basic unit has already been encapsulated by primes? That is, a prime is already made of differing amounts of ones(by repeated addition). All composite numbers are made of primes. All primes are made of just ones.
So primes are kinda like the atoms of numbers while 1 is just the quark that makes up the primes. Could this be a valid viewpoint?
It makes sense because one isn't an "atom" for numbers in the multiplication sense. That is,
6=2*3
=1*2*3
=1*1*2*3
=1*...
So clearly 1 cannot be prime.
But in the addition sense, all numbers are made of ones. So in the addition sense, one is an "atom" for numbers.
But multiplication is just a special case of addition.
Is there something deeper going on here?
I know that by definition, 1 isn't prime. But what is the philosophical justification?
Could it be that the concept of a one as a basic unit has already been encapsulated by primes? That is, a prime is already made of differing amounts of ones(by repeated addition). All composite numbers are made of primes. All primes are made of just ones.
So primes are kinda like the atoms of numbers while 1 is just the quark that makes up the primes. Could this be a valid viewpoint?