}}'''Primer''' is a [[pattern]] that was constructed by [[Dean Hickerson]] on November 1, {{year|1991}} that produces a stream of [[lightweight spaceship]]s representing prime numbers. N is prime if and only if a lightweight spaceship escapes to the left of the [[pentadecathlon]] at the bottom-left corner of the pattern at [[generation]] 120N+100.<ref>PRIMES.LIF from [[Alan Hensel]]'s [http://www.ibiblio.org/lifepatterns/ lifep.zip pattern collection]. Accessed on July 28, 2009.</ref><ref>four-primers.rle.gz from [[Golly]]'s built-in pattern catalogue. Accessed on July 28, 2009.</ref> It was the first known pattern created that computes prime numbers, though others have since been constructed based on the same ideas.<ref name="post6330"></ref>
}}'''Primer''' is a [[pattern]] that was constructed by [[Dean Hickerson]] on November 1, {{year|1991}} that produces a stream of [[lightweight spaceship]]s representing prime numbers. N is prime if and only if a lightweight spaceship escapes to the left of the [[pentadecathlon]] at the bottom-left corner of the pattern at [[generation]] 120N+100.<ref>PRIMES.LIF from [[Alan Hensel]]'s [http://www.ibiblio.org/lifepatterns/ lifep.zip pattern collection]. Accessed on July 28, 2009.</ref><ref>four-primers.rle.gz from [[Golly]]'s built-in pattern catalogue. Accessed on July 28, 2009.</ref> It was the first known pattern created that computes prime numbers, though others have since been constructed based on the same ideas.<ref name="post6330"></ref>
It works by using [[glider]]s to emulate a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sieve_of_Eratosthenes prime number sieve]. Lightweight spaceships that move westward are deleted by gliders that represent positive integers if the lightweight spaceship represents a multiple of that number.
It works by using [[glider]]s to emulate a prime number sieve<ref>Wikipedia, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sieve_of_Eratosthenes Sieve of Eratosthenes]</ref>. Lightweight spaceships that move westward are deleted by gliders that represent positive integers if the lightweight spaceship represents a multiple of that number.
==Image gallery==
==Image gallery==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{LinkLexicon|lex_p.htm#primer}}
{{LinkLexicon|lex_p.htm#primer}}
*{{LinkGoLNews|2010/02/prime_numbers.html|title=Prime numbers|date=February 04, 2010|author=Adam P. Goucher}}
Primer is a pattern that was constructed by Dean Hickerson on November 1, 1991 that produces a stream of lightweight spaceships representing prime numbers. N is prime if and only if a lightweight spaceship escapes to the left of the pentadecathlon at the bottom-left corner of the pattern at generation 120N+100.[1][2] It was the first known pattern created that computes prime numbers, though others have since been constructed based on the same ideas.[3]
It works by using gliders to emulate a prime number sieve[4]. Lightweight spaceships that move westward are deleted by gliders that represent positive integers if the lightweight spaceship represents a multiple of that number.
Image gallery
The stream of spaceships representing prime numbers
