Math in the News
Largest Known Prime Number Discovered
On January 25, 2012, software running on the computer of Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search (GIMPS) volunteer (and MAA member) Curtis Cooper discovered the largest known prime number.
The number, 257,885,161-1, has 17,425,170 digits. The new prime is only the 48th known Mersenne prime yet discovered.
Read the GIMPS press release.