4 ms·
For every prime p, we have p = 1 * p (clearly a factoring of p, though a trivial one). So rather "Prime numbers can't be factored in a nontrivial way.",
by wolfgke 11y ago
For every prime p, we have p = 1 * p (clearly a factoring of p, though a trivial one). So rather "Prime numbers can't be factored in a nontrivial way.",
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- noobie 11y agoI'd go with "Prime numbers can't be prime-factored".
- wolfgke 11y agoEven if we ignore units (i.e. 1, -1 in the ring Z), the prime number is a factorization of itself (one factor). Otherwise the famous theorem that any integer >= 1 can be factored uniquely (up to order of the factors) into prime numbers would not hold (it even holds for 1, since 1 is defined as the product of zero factors).