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Possible Duplicate:
Real world applications of prime numbers?

Is there any practical application (I mean outside mathematics) for prime numbers other than cryptography?

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    If you are a cicada, prime numbers have applications to predator-avoidance: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_numbers#Prime_numbers_in_nature2012-07-25
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    possible dupe: [Real world applications of prime numbers?](http://math.stackexchange.com/q/43119/19341)...2012-07-25
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    This question was also asked on [MathOverflow](http://mathoverflow.net/questions/43397/examples-of-prime-numbers-in-nature).2012-07-25
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    I don't think the point of prime numbers is to have an application...it is more the philosophy of what they represent. They are "building blocks" for the integers. It often suffices to prove things about all integers by just proving them for primes.2012-07-25
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    @Micah I am not a cicida and already knew the fact. It is trivial. I am interested in applications.2012-07-25
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    @m.k. The entry you mentioned is about nature but I am interested in applications.2012-07-25
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    @draks My question has excluded cryptography.2012-07-25
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    @fretty To prove a theorem for natural numbers in general, is it enough to prove it just for primes? I think it is not the case.2012-07-25
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    No, but I did not say this!2012-07-25
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    @fretty You said: "It often suffices to prove things about all integers by just proving them for primes". So what does it mean?2012-07-25
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    It means exactly what it says: It is often (but not *always*) sufficient to prove a statement about the integers by proving it for prime numbers.2012-07-25
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    Cryptography, coding theory, compression (hashing), and fast algorithms for arithmetic on integers & polynomials.2012-07-25

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