Prime numbers are natural numbers greater than 1 that have no positive divisors other than 1 and themselves. This means that a prime number can only be divided evenly (without leaving a remainder) by 1 and the number itself.
For example:
- 2 is a prime number because its only divisors are 1 and 2.
- 3 is a prime number because its only divisors are 1 and 3.
- 4 is not a prime number because it can be divided by 1, 2, and 4.
Some of the first few prime numbers are: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, and so on.
The number 2 is the only even prime number; all other even numbers can be divided by 2, which makes them composite (not prime).