From: Brett Paatsch (paatschb@optusnet.com.au)
Date: Wed May 28 2003 - 22:57:08 MDT
Spike Lee writes:
> ...With
> the advent of the 2+ GHz processors, the mathematical
> expectation of winning the 100k$ prize for the first
> 10 million digit prime (running GIMPS 24-7) exceeds the
> cost of the electricity used by the computer. Plus of
> course the computer itself instantly becomes a museum
> piece, with a value in itself of perhaps 20k-25k$.
> Someone offered to buy the 100MHz Pentium 1 on which
> the 37th Mersenne prime was discovered for $10k. The
> indignant owner told him to get real. {8^D
>
Spike just for idle ignoramuses like myself what is the basis
(generally) for the interest in *really* big prime numbers and
their discovery.
Some folks collect vegetables shaped like heads and faces or
something else - I'm constantly surprised by what people will
do with their time - but I've gotta believe that there is a better
or deeper reason for pursuing large primes.
I'm merely curious. Are there applications for this sort of thing?
Why Spike, Why?
Brett Paatsch
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