kertoimeton

Kertoimeton is a Finnish term that translates to "factorless" or "unfactorable" in English. It is primarily used in the context of mathematics, specifically within number theory. A number is considered kertoimeton if it cannot be expressed as a product of two or more integers, other than 1 and itself. This definition directly corresponds to the concept of a prime number. Therefore, in a mathematical context, kertoimeton is synonymous with "prime number."

The term is not widely used in English mathematical literature, with "prime number" being the universally accepted and understood term. However, understanding kertoimeton can be helpful for those studying Finnish mathematical texts or terminology. It emphasizes the fundamental property of prime numbers as indivisible building blocks in multiplication.

Prime numbers are integers greater than 1 that have only two distinct positive divisors: 1 and themselves. Examples of kertoimeton numbers include 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and so on. Composite numbers, conversely, are those that are not kertoimeton, meaning they have more than two divisors. For instance, 4 is not kertoimeton because it can be factored as 2 x 2. The number 1 is a special case; it is neither prime nor composite, and thus neither kertoimeton nor composite.