Download Project: The Sieve of Eratosthenes

Project: The Sieve of Eratosthenes
A Greek mathematician, Eratosthenes (276-195 BC), discovered the Sieve which is
known as the Sieve of Eratosthenes. He migrated to Egypt; and taught at the University
of Alexandria.
Step 1
Copy the following table of whole numbers and cross out the number 1, as shown below.
Step 2
Circle the number 2 and then cross out all the multiples of 2, as shown below.
Step 3
The next number that is not crossed out is 3. Circle it and then cross out all the multiples of 3
(i.e. 3, 6, 9, 12...).
Step 4
The next number that is not crossed out is 5. Circle it and then cross out all the multiples of 5
(i.e. 5, 10, 15, 20…).
Step 5
The next number that is not crossed out is 7. Circle it and then cross out all the multiples of 7
Step 6
Continue this process until there is no 'next number'.
Step 7
Make a list of all the circled numbers.
Step 8
Write the factors of each of the circled numbers.
Step 9
Make a list of the first twenty crossed out numbers and write the factors of these numbers.
Questions to answer
1. What do you observe about the number of factors of the circled numbers and the
crossed out numbers? Write a brief statement in your own words.
2. What name is given to the circled numbers?
3. What name is given to the crossed out numbers?
4. How many prime numbers are less than 100?
5. How many prime numbers are less than 200?
Twin Primes
Twin primes are two primes that differ by 2. E.g. 3 and 5 are twin primes because they
differ by 2. Clearly, 7 and 11 are not twin primes because they differ by 4.
Use the Sieve of Eratosthenes to find other twin primes between 2 and 200.
16. If the digits of a prime number are reversed, then the numbers obtained are sometimes a
prime. E.g. 17 and 71 are both primes. However, 23 and 32 are not primes.
From your list of prime numbers (or the Sieve of Eratosthenes), find other pairs like 17 and
71.