Twin Prime Conjecture facts for kids
The twin prime conjecture is a big idea in mathematics. It's a guess that mathematicians are still trying to prove. This guess says that we can always find two special numbers called twin primes, no matter how big we want them to be.
What Are Twin Primes?
Twin primes are prime numbers that are very close to each other. They always have a difference of exactly two. For example, 3 and 5 are both prime numbers, and 5 minus 3 is 2. So, 3 and 5 are twin primes! Another example is 11 and 13.
Examples of Twin Primes
Here are some pairs of twin primes:
- 3 and 5
- 5 and 7
- 11 and 13
- 17 and 19
- 29 and 31
- 41 and 43
A number like 23 is prime, but it's not a twin prime. The prime numbers closest to 23 are 19 and 29. Neither of these is exactly two away from 23.
The Big Question: Are There Endless Twin Primes?
Long, long ago, around 300 B.C., a famous Greek mathematician named Euclid discovered twin primes. Since his time, mathematicians have wondered if there are an infinite number of these special pairs. This means, do they go on forever, or do they stop at some point?
Many smart mathematicians today are still working hard to find the answer to this question. It's one of the big mysteries in number theory! If someone proves the twin prime conjecture, it would be a huge discovery in mathematics.
