
Vampire numbers and their fangs | Tangente
And even vampires
Yes, vampire numbers really do exist! And they have fangs!


Yes, vampire numbers really do exist! And they have fangs!


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The Chinese remainder theorem owes its name to ancient Chinese mathematicians’ interest in the arrangement problems it describes. Originally a source of puzzles, it has since found more practical applications, particularly in cryptography.

The most widespread cryptography system relies on the use of very large integers, whose factorization remains beyond the reach of our computers. As early as the 17th century, Mersenne and Fermat were investigating the prime factorization of very large numbers; their work inspired modern factorization algorithms.

Many arithmetic problems can be solved using standard methods, whether elementary or advanced. But some puzzles call for a basic concept—divisibility—and a little ingenuity.

Does Fermat's little theorem characterize prime numbers? Far from it! Yet few composite numbers satisfy the theorem's conclusion, making them all the more intriguing to number-theory enthusiasts and specialists alike.
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