Two injured in Missouri by new large prime number

[Tab]

Unsuspecting tourists found themselves at the receiving end of a large number, when a Mr. and Mrs. Mersenne inadvertently tripped over a previous undiscovered prime number in Missouri.

"We didn't know there was such a thing," Mr. Mersenne claimed. "We knew there were large numbers around, but we never expected to have to deal with one."

The prime in question, basically 2 gazillion digits, was unnoticed until researchers at the University of Missouri uncovered it, barely covered by the dust from the previous prime. As has been reported, there's been no injuries related to the previous prime, but the Missouri state government has applied for Federal Emergency Management assistance in this case, due in part to the magnitude, and the unexpectedness of such a large number in Missouri, a state not normally known for its digital acumen.

The disposition of the number is yet to be decided. Unofficially, the state government is holding out hope for another prime to be discovered. "We don't think we can sustain the tourist attraction", a representative said, but noted that they were hoping to mine additional primes. No word yet as to whether additional primes were in the works, but as he noted, "We wouldn't say no if Kansas could get the next number."

[NNadir]

1. Something needs to be done about the increasing dangers connected with the proliferation...

...of number theorists.

They must be stopped. The next time it is likely to be far more dangerous!

[bvf]

9. Which reminds me:

I wonder what Mochizuki's doing while waiting for practically the whole damned math world to catch up.

[lpbk2713]

2. I hope their insurance covers this.

[pinboy3niner]

3. Beware of weapons of maths destruction!

[3catwoman3]

5. Good one.

One can always "count' on you, pinboy.

[pinboy3niner]

7. I make no claim of originality for this. It's an oldie but a goodie. :) nt

[tanyev]

6. The indivisible ones are the most dangerous.

[MindPilot]

13. Clearly the resultant of al-Gebra radicals.

That is how Missouri came to be known as the "show me your work" state.

[hifiguy]

4. This will be topped.

There's no such thing as a "highest prime number."

[Tab]

20. Well, not yet

but keep a close eye on Kansas and Oklahoma

[REP]

8. Nobody goes to Warrensburg as a tourist

So I call hooey on this post

[Joanie Baloney]

10. So funny!

I passed it on (anonymously) to some of my math friends! Love it!

-JB

[MindPilot]

14. One is the only-est number...

that you can divide by....

[callous taoboy]

11. Tragic- They were in their prime.

[Dr. Strange]

12. They looked for clues to determine what caused such a large prime...

but they couldn't seem to find any factors.

[Tab]

15. I think they were looking perhaps for multiple causes

but couldn't find any

[MindPilot]

16. One and three were unharmed and returned to their roots.

[Tab]

17. No root for two?

I'd like to square this off for every number involved.

[BadgerKid]

18. Hopefully the radical factors get rooted out.

[NNadir]

19. Lord have Mercenne 'em! n/t.