I am so psyched! Ten years ago I used my computers to help search for new prime numbers in the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Number Search (GIMPS). Somewhere along the way, I got a new Mac, the code was not available to run on the new Mac, and I never got back to it. Until today! I complained that there wasn't any software for the new Intel Macs and George Woltman himself e-mailed me with a link to a package and that package is working!You could discover one of the most coveted finds in all of Mathematics - a new Mersenne prime number. We've found ten already. Join in on this fun, yet serious research project. All you need is a personal computer, patience, and a lot of luck.If you don't know what Mersenne primes are, don't worry! I shall bore you with this in the future! But I have to go clean the house in preparation for the weekend. And the otters are playing in the beaver ponds so I have to keep an eye on them.
In addition to the joy of making a mathematical discovery, you might win some cash. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is offering a $100,000 award to the first person or group to discover a ten million digit prime number! See how GIMPS will distribute this award if we are lucky enough to find the winning ten million digit prime.Sad note: Wingnut is going home tomorrow. GIMPS, otters, photography, the church's Chicken Pie Supper will all keep me busy so I don't get too depressed.
Technorati tags: mathematics Mersenne+prime GIMPS
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