The article highlights the discovery of a new algorithm for testing the primality of large numbers, developed by three students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
Primality testing is the process of determining whether a given number is a prime number (a number that is only divisible by 1 and itself) or not.
The algorithm, named the AKS primality test after the initials of the three students, is the first deterministic algorithm to have polynomial-time complexity for testing the primality of large numbers. This means it can determine whether a number is prime or not in a relatively short amount of time, compared to other known algorithms.
The AKS primality test has potential applications in cryptography and number theory, as it can efficiently check the primality of large numbers that are used as the basis for encryption in secure communications.
The algorithm uses a combination of mathematical concepts, such as modular arithmetic and the properties of polynomials, to determine the primality of a number. It checks for any patterns or conditions that would indicate the number is not prime, and if none are found, it concludes that the number is prime with certainty.