sieve of Eratosthenes

American  

noun

Mathematics.

1. a method of obtaining prime numbers by sifting out the composite numbers from the set of natural numbers so that only prime numbers remain.

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Etymology

Origin of sieve of Eratosthenes

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

Just as a chess player might examine variations of the Ruy Lopez and King’s Indian Defense, a mathematician might study particularly clever applications of the Chinese remainder theorem or the sieve of Eratosthenes.

From New York Times