One of my favorite anecdotes about prime numbers concerns Alexander Grothendieck, who was among the most brilliant mathematicians of the 20th century. According to one account, he was once asked ...

A prime number is an integer that can only be divided ... makes them a subject of study for mathematicians. Since ancient times, these mysterious numbers have fascinated scholars.

The four smallest prime numbers are 2, 3, 5 and 7. Next comes 11, which is quite a “jump” from 7. What law is at work here? Mathematicians have been racking their brains since ancient times.