Date: Sat, 08 Aug 1998 22:09:17 -0700
From: Tegan Rieske
My father said that prime numbers do not occur in nature. I pointed out that two insects (that i know of) have lifespans of prime numbers: magicicada septendecim and magicicada tredicim (17 and 13, respectively). He said you have to count the number of days in each year, and that therefore he was correct. I think he's wrong; it seems to me that since prime numbers are the "atoms of mathamatics," they would occur in nature anyway.
So, do prime numbers occur in nature or not?
Thanks,
Tegan Rieske
73396692