Number theory

High school (ages 12+)
Mathematics & Numbers

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/number-theory

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Number theory?Includes elementary number theory, analytic number theory, algebraic number theory
2. What is the discipline focus?Study of the properties of integers, including divisibility and prime numbers
3. What is the foundational texts?Euclid's 'Elements' established early principles of number theory
4. Why are prime numbers important in number theory?Prime numbers are the building blocks of all integers, and knowing how they work helps mathematicians prove many important facts about numbers.
5. How does number theory help keep our online messages safe?It is used in cryptography, such as RSA, which relies on the fact that it is very hard to break down large numbers into their prime parts, keeping online communication secure.

Integers: The set of whole numbers, both positive and negative, including zero.
Prime Number: A natural number greater than 1 that has exactly two distinct positive divisors: 1 and itself.
Modular Arithmetic: A system of arithmetic for integers, where numbers 'wrap around' upon reaching a certain value.
Diophantine Equation: A polynomial equation, usually with integer coefficients, for which integer solutions are sought.