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Is there a probabilistic test for Mersene primes? I thought they just wanted confirmation via independent calculation.
by phkahler 2y ago
Is there a probabilistic test for Mersene primes? I thought they just wanted confirmation via independent calculation.
- lifthrasiir 2y agoAny probabilistic primality test will work, but GIMPS currently uses the first-time Fermat probable prime test with a very robust certificate [1] to filter almost all non-primes in advance. [1] https://www.mersenne.org/various/math.php#prp https://www.mersenne.org/various/math.php#prp
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- af3d 2y agoIt's called the "Lucas–Lehmer primality test". Without it, GIMPS probably wouldn't have found a single one of them in an acceptable amount of time. The one that was just discovered is HUGE. I had to write a program just to slow down the output enough to be able to appreciate its shear magnitude (it is still printing as I write this!).