Prime numbers, a foundational idea in arithmetic, are numbers larger than 1 which might be solely divisible by 1 and themselves. As an illustration, the quantity 5 is prime as a result of it may solely be divided evenly by 1 and 5.
Prime numbers play a pivotal function in numerous fields like cryptography, laptop science, and quantity idea. Their distinctive properties provide vital advantages in information safety, algorithm design, and mathematical analysis.