A '''Mersenne prime''' is a prime number ''M'' that is of the form ''M = 2<sup>n</sup> − 1'', where ''n'' is some [[prime number]]<ref>[http://mathworld.wolfram.com/MersennePrime.html Mersenne Prime] from Wolfram</ref>. As of 2012, only 47 Mersenne Primes have been found.<ref>http://primes.utm.edu/largest.html#largest</ref> The largest known prime, ''2<sup>43112609</sup>-1'', is a Mersenne Prime. The concept of a Mersenne Prime was discovered by the French theologian, philosopher and mathematician [[Marin Mersenne]]. | A '''Mersenne prime''' is a prime number ''M'' that is of the form ''M = 2<sup>n</sup> − 1'', where ''n'' is some [[prime number]]<ref>[http://mathworld.wolfram.com/MersennePrime.html Mersenne Prime] from Wolfram</ref>. As of 2012, only 47 Mersenne Primes have been found.<ref>http://primes.utm.edu/largest.html#largest</ref> The largest known prime, ''2<sup>43112609</sup>-1'', is a Mersenne Prime. The concept of a Mersenne Prime was discovered by the French theologian, philosopher and mathematician [[Marin Mersenne]]. |