The Most Evil Number (Belphegor's Prime) - Numberphile

TL;DR

Belphegor's prime, a fundamentally evil number with 666 at its core, intrigues with its unique properties.

Transcript

Can I tell you about a new number? It's a very scary number, it's a bit evil. It's Belphegor's prime. Okay, so Belphegor, is one of the seven princes of hell. And the reason there's seven princes is because there are, of course, seven deadly sins. He's also Hell's ambassador to France. I didn't know Hell had ambassadors to different countries, make... Read More

Key Insights

• 😈 Belphegor's prime is a unique prime number infused with a sense of evil due to its association with the demon Belphegor.
• #️⃣ Harvey Dubner, an amateur number theorist, discovered Belphegor's prime while exploring prime numbers using a computer he built.
• #️⃣ Belphegor's prime belongs to a class of numbers known as Belphegor numbers, following a specific formula that defines its structure.
• 🌍 Only specific instances of Belphegor numbers are prime, making Belphegor's prime a rare and intriguing find in the world of mathematics.
• 🪜 Belphegor's prime exhibits interesting properties like being a Republican prime and a beastly prime, adding to its mystique.
• #️⃣ The uncertainty surrounding the existence of an infinite number of Belphegor primes is due to the unique characteristics of these prime numbers.
• 😈 Belphegor's prime represents a blend of mathematical curiosity and folklore, combining the world of prime numbers with the mythical realm of demons and evil.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Belphegor's prime and what makes it unique?

Belphegor's prime is a number with 666 at its core, accompanied by thirteen zeros on either side. It is considered evil due to its alignment with the demon Belphegor and the number 666.

Q: Who discovered Belphegor's prime and how?

Belphegor's prime was discovered by Harvey Dubner, an amateur number theorist who used a computer he built in his garage to search for prime numbers. He stumbled upon this unique prime number during his exploration.

Q: What are some interesting properties of Belphegor's prime?

Belphegor's prime not only features 666 at its core but also exhibits characteristics like being a Republican prime and a beastly prime. It stands out in the world of prime numbers due to its distinct properties.

Q: Are there infinite Belphegor primes, and why is it uncertain?

The existence of an infinite number of Belphegor primes is uncertain, mainly because Belphegor's prime falls under the category of palindromic primes. The world of prime numbers is vast and mysterious, with many unanswered questions.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Belphegor's prime, a number associated with the demon Belphegor, is characterized by 666 at its center, further embellished with thirteen zeros on either side.

• It belongs to a class of numbers known as Belphegor numbers, following a specific formula, with only specific instances being prime.

• Discovered by Harvey Dubner, these mysterious primes also hold intriguing properties like being Republican and beastly primes.