FACTOR

Section: User Commands (1)
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NAME

factor, primes - factor a number, generate large primes  

SYNOPSIS

factor [ number ]

primes  

DESCRIPTION

When factor is invoked without an argument, it waits for a number to be typed in. If you type in a positive number less than 256 (about 7.2e16) it will factor the number and print its prime factors; each one is printed the proper number of times. Then it waits for another number. It exits if it encounters a zero or any non-numeric character.

If factor is invoked with an argument, it factors the number as above and then exits.

Maximum time to factor is proportional to sqrt(n) and occurs when n is prime or the square of a prime. It takes 1 minute to factor a prime near 1014 on a PDP11.

When primes is invoked, it waits for a number to be typed in. If you type in a positive number less than 256 it will print all primes greater than or equal to this number.  

DIAGNOSTICS

`Ouch.' for input out of range or for garbage input.


 

Index

NAME
SYNOPSIS
DESCRIPTION
DIAGNOSTICS

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Time: 10:16:02 GMT, December 28, 2024