The phrase “is 61 a prime number” inquires whether the number 61 meets the mathematical definition of a prime number. A prime number, in elementary number theory, is a natural number greater than 1 that is not a product of two smaller natural numbers. For instance, the number 13 is prime because it cannot be divided evenly by any other whole numbers except 1 and itself.
Determining whether a given number is prime has practical significance in various fields. Prime numbers are essential in cryptography, ensuring the security of online communications and data protection. Additionally, the study of prime numbers has led to groundbreaking developments in mathematics, such as the development of the Prime Number Theorem by Bernhard Riemann in the 19th century.