Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

[Marilyn]

Originally Posted by Lissa

I'm with you Mum, 90 and I got the same ones wrong, isn't it a prime number if it can only be divided by itself? Then 1 should be a prime, and who cares what a 7 sided figure is called?

I highly doubt 5th graders could answer these too.

I thought that the definition of a prime number was that it had to be divisible by itself and 1, so since one is divisible by itselt (1) and 1, it was prime. However, the correct definition is "In mathematics, a prime number (or a prime) is a natural number that has exactly two (distinct) natural number divisors, which are 1and the prime number itself." (from Wickipedia)

There have to be TWO DISTINCT divisors. 1 has only itself.

And I still don't care what a 7 sided figure is called. 6 sided and 8 sided are much more common and practical. Six sided is actually the most efficient use of material to contain space. This is the reason that a honey comb utilizes 6 sided chambers.