Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: Lonesome in Massachussets

I’d let in 1 before 2. Two isn’t even odd.


35 posted on 01/18/2011 12:32:42 PM PST by sportutegrl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies ]


To: sportutegrl

In number theory, the fundamental theorem of arithmetic (or the unique-prime-factorization theorem) states that any integer greater than 1 can be written as a unique product (up to ordering of the factors) of prime numbers.

We need two to take care to those pesky even numbers. If you let one in, then the factorization is not unique, since you can add as many factors of one as you please.

Frinstance: 6936 = 2^3 x 3^1 x 17^2 = 1 x 2^3 x 3^1 x 17^2 = 1^2 x 2^3 x 3^1 x 17^2 = 1^3 x 2^3 x 3^1 x 17^2


36 posted on 01/18/2011 12:42:13 PM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets (Socialists are to economics what circle squarers are to math; undaunted by reason or derision.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson