Skip to main content

The Sieve of Eratosthenes - How Fast Can We Compute a Prime Number Table?

  • Chapter
Algorithms Unplugged

Abstract

A prime number is a natural number that is not divisible without remainder by any other natural number but 1 and itself. Primes are scattered irregularly among the set of natural numbers, and this fact has fascinated mathematicians throughout the centuries. Today, primes are not only a challenge for mathematicians, but are of very practical value – for instance, they play a central role in cryptography. In this chapter the authors explain a very old, but still practical algorithm for computing a table with all prime numbers up to a specified number.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Möhring, R.H., Oellrich, M. (2011). The Sieve of Eratosthenes - How Fast Can We Compute a Prime Number Table?. In: Vöcking, B., et al. Algorithms Unplugged. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15328-0_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15328-0_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-15327-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-15328-0

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics