2 to the 30,402,457th power minus 1

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 2 to the 30,402,457th power minus 1

Posted: 1/4/2006 4:54:35 AM EDT

Mo. Researchers Find Largest Prime Number

By GARANCE BURKE
Associated Press Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Researchers at a Missouri university have identified the largest known prime number, officials said Tuesday.

The team at Central Missouri State University, led by associate dean Steven Boone and mathematics professor Curtis Cooper, found it in mid- December after programming 700 computers years ago.

A prime number is a positive number divisible by only itself and 1 _ 2, 3, 5, 7 and so on.

The number that the team found is 9.1 million digits long. It is a Mersenne prime known as M30402457 _ that's 2 to the 30,402,457th power minus 1.

Mersenne primes are a special category expressed as 2 to the "p" power minus 1, in which "p" also is a prime number.

"We're super excited," said Boone, a chemistry professor. "We've been looking for such a number for a long time."

The discovery is affiliated with the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search, a global contest using volunteers who run software that searches for the largest Mersenne prime.

Posted: 1/4/2006 4:57:03 AM EDT

[#1]

At last humanity is saved!!!!
Seriously, besides the sheer nerdy joy in finding a new prime number, what's the point?

Posted: 1/4/2006 4:58:12 AM EDT

[#2]

Chuck Norris knew this 14 years ago.

Posted: 1/4/2006 4:58:36 AM EDT

[#3]

I knew that!

Posted: 1/4/2006 5:00:54 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
At last humanity is saved!!!!
Seriously, besides the sheer nerdy joy in finding a new prime number, what's the point?

I think that these numbers are valuable in the cryptologic sector of the military.

Posted: 1/4/2006 5:01:39 AM EDT

[#5]

Since encryption technology often employs incredibly large prime numbers, this could means that new encryption techniques could come from this that will be even harder to crack.

Posted: 1/4/2006 5:11:15 AM EDT

[#6]

+2^30,402,457 minus 1

(it's the new +1 for arfcom)

Posted: 1/4/2006 6:02:08 AM EDT

[#7]

Gee... I sure hope that progam was paid for with my tax dollars!

Posted: 1/4/2006 6:05:08 AM EDT

[#8]

Maybe so, but the "answer" is STILL 42.

Posted: 1/4/2006 6:08:48 AM EDT

[#9]

WOW.......I'm Impressed

Posted: 1/4/2006 6:11:14 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:

Maybe so, but the "answer" is STILL 42 87.

Posted: 1/4/2006 6:12:06 AM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
Since encryption technology often employs incredibly large prime numbers, this could means that new encryption techniques could come from this that will be even harder to crack.

I believe that is the code my cell phone bill is written in.

Posted: 1/4/2006 6:21:24 AM EDT

[#12]

Well, I for one will sleep better tonight. I was wondering when they were going to solve this.

Posted: 1/4/2006 6:42:10 AM EDT

[#13]

I have that formula on my schmeckel. Funny thing is I thought it was a birthmark all of these years.

Posted: 1/4/2006 2:34:56 PM EDT

[#14]

Sounds like a bunch of virgins and their computers had a hard night.

Posted: 1/4/2006 3:17:07 PM EDT

[#15]

CMSU, huh? I would've thought it would've been UMR.

Posted: 1/4/2006 3:18:50 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
Sounds like a bunch of virgins and their computers had a hard night.

Posted: 1/4/2006 3:41:22 PM EDT

[#17]

So THAT'S how you got so many posts .

Posted: 1/4/2006 3:51:40 PM EDT

[#18]

I feel 87 times smarter now.

Posted: 1/4/2006 5:06:28 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
So THAT'S how you got so many posts .

You just wasted post 556!

I hope you do post 762 better.

Posted: 1/4/2006 5:07:24 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Chuck Norris knew this 14 years ago.

Actually 2^87-1 days ago, but who's counting.

Posted: 1/4/2006 5:10:39 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
Maybe so, but the "answer" is STILL 42.

And now the search is on for the question.... to the answer.

Haven't seen the movie, just started reading the book.

Posted: 1/4/2006 5:12:15 PM EDT

[#22]

2^30,402,457 - 1 = 2^30,402,457 - .9bar

Posted: 1/4/2006 5:25:05 PM EDT

[#23]

Damnit, Time to change my ATM code. Damn hackers.

Posted: 1/5/2006 4:45:33 AM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Maybe so, but the "answer" is STILL 42.

And now the search is on for the question.... to the answer.

Haven't seen the movie, just started reading the book.

The entire series was great! And as you have not finished, I will not reveal the "question".

Posted: 1/5/2006 4:48:00 AM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
+2^30,402,457 minus 1

(it's the new +1 for arfcom)

Will never beat out +.9bar

Posted: 1/5/2006 4:55:03 AM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
Since encryption technology often employs incredibly large prime numbers, this could means that new encryption techniques could come from this that will be even harder to crack.

If they rely on me to type that prime number their data is really safe as I cant type a series of words in any given post without a typo or spelling error...

That is just insane and well into the category of WHO CARES?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 2 to the 30,402,457th power minus 1

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