eli5 why are prime numbers so important
@fluxom_alt prime numbers didn't really have a use until the internet and encryption came along. they were mostly seen as an interesting but dead-ended facet of maths
some types of encryption on the internet will use a 'public' and 'private' key to encrypt and decrypt information, respectively. the private key will be two prime numbers, usually very large; the public key will be those numbers multiplied together.
primes are used because multiplying them is very, very difficult to reverse
@pearshapes this is very informative and helpful but I'm having a hard time processing brain power to come up with a proper thank you when I just really really wanna say your avatar is rad as hell
