9 Sep
2008
9 Sep
'08
11:21 a.m.
The GIMPS at www.mersenne.org announces that the M(p) offered up as 'prime' on 2008-08-23 has been verified prime by the first of two confirmations. Good chances that this will be the first prime of over 10m decimal digits: 2nd confirmation due tomorrow, 2008-09-10. Prize time! The M(p) offered up as prime on 2008-09-06, just 14 days later, is scheduled to be confirmed or denied on 2008-09-11: I hope it's bigger or there will be confusion. I guess there's a 'no overtaking' rule on the Mersenne Motorway. Guy p.s. M(M(31)) remains the largest Double Mersenne Number (obviously with prime index, in this case M(31)) whose primality status is known - it is composite. It has been on the top of the DMN pile for 25 years plus!