The Electronic Frontier Foundation is offering a prize of $250,000 to whoever is the first to find a prime number that is at least one billion digits long.
That should be easy. Here's an algorithm to find the number: ---------------
Step 1) Star by setting X = 1 + 10 to the 999,999,999th power.
Step 2) Check to see if X is prime
Step 3) If X is prime, then -- CHA-CHING! -- you're done! Otherwise, add 2 to X and go back to step 2. -----------------
Notice how I cleverly set it to only to check odd numbers. That's because 2 is the only even prime number and it has fewer than a billion digits. My shortcut should save a considerable amount of time.
That should be easy. Here's an algorithm to find the number:
ReplyDelete---------------
Step 1) Star by setting X = 1 + 10 to the 999,999,999th power.
Step 2) Check to see if X is prime
Step 3) If X is prime, then -- CHA-CHING! -- you're done! Otherwise, add 2 to X and go back to step 2.
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Notice how I cleverly set it to only to check odd numbers. That's because 2 is the only even prime number and it has fewer than a billion digits. My shortcut should save a considerable amount of time.
I'm a frickin' genius!
So just remember...if this works, and you get the money, you heard about it here first! :)
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