Re:Illegal prime number
by lloeki on Wednesday July 30, 2014 @10:30AM
(#8108349)
Why prime? Is that because they're remarkable? Then any number would do since all numbers are remarkable (otherwise if there was a (set of) non-remarkable numbers, there would be a smallest one, hence it'd be remarkable itself, and so on).
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Re:Illegal prime number
by golemotron on Wednesday July 30, 2014 @11:39AM
(#8108841)
I think it is because primes are widely accepted as remarkable. They are seen as things you discover - you don't invent them.
The fact that they have practical application is important too. Do we really want a legal system where you have to get clearances from the MPAA to make ship building software, for instance?