What Are Prime Numbers?

Prime numbers are special numbers that can only be divided exactly by 1 and themselves. This means they have only two factors. For example, 7 is a prime number because the only numbers that divide evenly into it are 1 and 7. Numbers like 4 or 9 are not prime because they have extra factors (4 is divisible by 2, and 9 is divisible by 3). The number 2 is the smallest and the only even prime number — all other even numbers can be divided by 2, so they aren’t prime.

Why Are Prime Numbers Useful?

Prime numbers are the building blocks of all other numbers. Every whole number greater than 1 can be made by multiplying prime numbers together. This is called prime factorisation, and it’s very helpful in maths, especially when simplifying fractions or working with large numbers. Prime numbers are also super important in computer science and online security — they help keep your passwords and personal information safe through encryption! So, learning your primes isn’t just smart, it’s powerful.