Number Theory
Number theory is a branch of mathematics that studies whole numbers, including prime numbers, composite numbers, and their properties.
Key Concepts
- Prime Numbers: Whole numbers that are divisible only by themselves and 1, such as 2, 3, 5, 7, 11.
- Composite Numbers: Whole numbers that are divisible by more than two numbers, such as 4, 6, 8, 9, 10.
- Divisibility: A whole number is divisible by another whole number if it can be divided evenly without a remainder. For example, 12 is divisible by 3 because 12/3 = 4.
- GCD and LCM: GCD (Greatest Common Divisor) is the largest whole number that divides two or more whole numbers without leaving a remainder. LCM (Least Common Multiple) is the smallest whole number that is a multiple of two or more whole numbers.
- Modular Arithmetic: A system of arithmetic that calculates the remainder when a number is divided by another number. It is often used in cryptography and computer science.
Important Information
- The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic: Every composite number can be uniquely expressed as a product of primes.
- Number theory has applications in cryptography, computer science, and many other fields.
- Number theory is an active area of research and has many unsolved problems, such as the Riemann Hypothesis.
Takeaways
- Number theory explores the properties of whole numbers, including prime and composite numbers.
- Divisibility, GCD, LCM, and modular arithmetic are important concepts in number theory.
- The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic states that every composite number can be expressed as a product of primes.
- Number theory has many practical applications and is an active area of research with many unsolved problems.