Ask A Scientist

Mathematics Archive


Zero: prime or composite

Author:      carl w gamauf
Is zero a prime or composite number?

Response #:  1 of 1
Author:      tee
The usual definitions for prime and composite numbers restrict us to the
positive integers so zero is neither prime nor composite.  Even if we were
to expand our universe to include the natural numbers (non-negative inte-
gers) the usual definitions (check their statements carefully) would exclude
zero.


Back to Mathematics Ask A Scientist Index
NEWTON Homepage Ask A Question

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators.
Argonne National Laboratory, Division of Educational Programs, Harold Myron, Ph.D., Division Director.