Prime numbers are, by definition, numbers that are only divisible by 1 and themselves.
A prime number is a whole number greater than 1 that has only two divisors: 1 and itself. This means a prime number cannot be evenly divided by any other whole number except for 1 and the number itself.
Here's a breakdown:
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Definition: A prime number is a natural number greater than 1 that is not a product of two smaller natural numbers. A natural number greater than 1 that is not prime is called a composite number.
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Divisibility: The key characteristic of a prime number is its limited divisibility. It can only be divided evenly by 1 and the number itself.
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Examples: The first few prime numbers are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, and so on.
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Important Note: The number 1 is not considered a prime number.
In essence, the question defines the very nature of prime numbers.
