Composite Numbers
Composite numbers are positive integers greater than 1 that have more than two distinct positive divisors, meaning they can be divided evenly by numbers other than 1 and themselves. They are the opposite of prime numbers, which have exactly two divisors. This concept is fundamental in number theory and mathematics, often used in algorithms, cryptography, and problem-solving.
Developers should learn about composite numbers for applications in cryptography (e.g., RSA encryption relies on the difficulty of factoring large composites), algorithm design (e.g., prime factorization, sieve methods), and mathematical problem-solving in coding interviews or competitive programming. Understanding composites helps in optimizing code for tasks like checking primality or generating number sequences.