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 2015, only 48 Mersenne Primes have been found.<ref>http://primes.utm.edu/largest.html#largest</ref> The largest known prime, ''2<sup>57885161</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 2015, only 48 Mersenne Primes have been found.<ref>http://primes.utm.edu/largest.html#largest</ref> The largest known prime, ''2<sup>57885161</sup>-1'', is a Mersenne Prime. The concept of a Mersenne Prime was discovered by the French theologian, philosopher and mathematician [[Marin Mersenne]]. |