Question 398079: Mathmaticians have been searching for a formula that yeilds prime numbers. One such formula was x^2-x+41. Select some numbers for x. Substitute them in the formula, and see if prime numbers occur. Try to find a number for x that when susitituted in the formula yeilds a composite number. Im confused and dont understand.
Answer by stanbon(75887)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Mathmaticians have been searching for a formula that yeilds prime numbers. One such formula was x^2-x+41. Select some numbers for x. Substitute them in the formula, and see if prime numbers occur. Try to find a number for x that when susitituted in the formula yeilds a composite number.
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A composite number is a number which is not prime.
It is a number that has more that has a factor other
than itself and one.
3 is prime because its only factors are 3 and 1
4 is composite because its factors are 4,2,1
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Substitute 1,2,3,r,etc. to see if you can find a value
which when substituted into x^2-x+41 gives you a composite number.
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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