The seminar will meet Wednesdays 4-5 in MS 6221.
The prime numbers--whole numbers larger than 1 that cannot be factored into smaller positive whole numbers--have many fascinating properties. Some of these are so practical that they underlie the use of secure web pages on the Internet. Other questions about the primes remain unanswered to this day and are among the deepest mysteries in mathematics. This seminar will seek both to provide an understanding of the easier facts about the primes and to develop an appreciation of the meaning and importance of some more advanced facts and unanswered questions. In addition to class discussions, participants will be expected to do a few appropriate problems each week, both in groups and individually.
