taken from http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/10/24/me..._prime_number/ this.

"Prime number with 9.8 million digits found

copyrighted material removed

These people need a hobbie. So do I for finding this. Another useless post.

 

Those people do have a hobby, its their profession. Pure mathematics, while maybe worthless to you, has its place.

 

A lot of stuff like encrypting your credit card data is based on pure mathemathics.
Naturally it may sound odd to search for a number with more than 10 million digits athat can only be divided by one or itself. But there is a lot to be learned in mathemathics and in computing by doing so- the cluster computers that help in designing better engines and safer cars are also a spinoff of this research.

AlpineRAM

 

Yes. Useless. I was wondering if you were bored today. What'cha gonna do with that number now that ya got it? Notin'. Thought so.