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| Reviewed: |
Jan 05, 2003 by Mathematics |
| Overview: |
This is a sub-page of href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/ArtifactDetail.po?oid=1400000000000020140">The
Prime Pages which is separately reviewed elsewhere on MERLOT, as is another of its subpages href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/ArtifactDetail.po?oid=1010000000000076315">The
Prime Pages - Finding Primes and Proving Primality . It presents an assortment of "largest known primes" information and activities from a variety of perspectives and includes several ?top ten? lists of examples. |
| Learning Goals: |
To describe the discoveries of "largest known" primes within the context of the more general "Prime Pages". |
| Target Student Population: |
The introductory/historical material is written for a general audience. Upper-division undergraduates or graduate students should appreciate the links to the proofs section of the site and faculty might use the extensive references and links to the university library catalog. |
| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
Some computer ability to use test and search algorithms and a knowledge of abstract algebra to understand proofs. |
| Type of Material: |
Reference and descriptive material with many cross-links and resources including access to the University of Tennessee library catalog database. |
| Recommended Uses: |
Any educational or research-oriented investigation of largest primes could benefit from the information on this page. |
| Technical Requirements: |
Basic browser. Prime number search software is available for download and has specific machine requirements. |
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| Strengths: |
This sub-page of the "Prime Pages" features an introduction, several "top ten" known primes lists, and the ability to download a complete list of primes (with date of latest update). It features other sources of information on the mathematical theory behind the records as well as Euclid's elegant proof of the ?infinitude of primes.?
The introduction is written in a pleasant, readable style and features inline links to more detailed explanations or to the proof section. Examples include the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic and Gaps between Primes.
"Top ten" primes are presented in several flavors, including twin primes, Sophie Germaine primes and Mersenne primes, and show the number of digits, name of discoverer and year of discovery. |
| Concerns: |
None |
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
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| Strengths: |
This page features a rich web of links within the material. Particularly effective in motivating students should be the links from specific prime numbers to their discoverers who are often fellow students such as 19-year-old Roland Clarkson and 20-year-old Michael Cameron. Links to notes also include illustrated history, links to newspaper articles, and free downloads of a variety of prime number checking software. |
| Concerns: |
None |
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
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| Strengths: |
Navigation within this page is easy, with topic lists and return links. There is a searchable database of prime numbers that includes six user fields, such as rank, number of digits and name of discoverer. |
| Concerns: |
Some newspaper links go only to the publication's main page, necessitating an archive search if the article is still available online. |
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