Math Happenings

The Concept of immemorial Numbers and Zero MTH/110 March 14, 2011 The Concept of Prime Numbers and Zero Have you ever wondered about the origins of blossoming be or the numeral zero? The ancient philosophers and mathematicians from such beforehand(predicate) civilizations in Egypt, Greece, Babylon, and India did. Their efforts have provided the basic fundamentals for mathematics that atomic number 18 used today. Prime Numbers A charge number is either(prenominal) integer other than a 0 or + 1 that is non divisible without a remainder by any other integers except + 1 and + the integer itself (Merriam-Webster, 1996). These verse were head start studied in-depth by ancient Greek mathematicians who looked to come for their unfathomed and numerological properties, seeking perfect and amicable numbers. (OConnor & Robertson, 2009) In 300 BC, Greek mathematician, Euclid of Alexandria proved and documented in his book IX of the Elements that prime numbers were infinite. He started with what he believed to be a comprehensive list of prime numbers, created a modernistic number, N, by multiplying all of the prime numbers together and adding 1. This resulted in a number not on his list and not divisible by any of his prime numbers.

N indeed had to be either prime itself or be a composite number that was a product of at least(prenominal) two other prime numbers not on his list. In 1747, a mathematician named of Euler demonstrated that all even numbers were perfect numbers. However, one hundred years later in 200 BC, Eratosthenes of Cyrene, a famous Greek mathematician known for his studies regarding prime numbers as well as for measuring the diam of the earth, devised a procedure or algorithm for calculating prime numbers called the Sieve of Eratosthenes (OConnor & Robertson, 2009). The study of prime numbers seemingly ceased to exist during the period of time known as the Dark Ages. Studies on the subject were not noted over again until the early 17th century when another prominent mathematician named Fermat,... If you penury to get a full essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com

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