The numbers 3,5,7,11,13,17,etc. are prime no matter what creature comes across them. How do we know? A prime number is defined simply as a number that is not the product of 2 or more whole numbers besides itself and 1.
Take the non-prime 12 for example. It can be the product of 2x6, or 3x4. This can be represented by taking 12 objects and placing them in 3 rows with 4 in each row, or 2 rows with 6 in each row (and vice versa). The rows must contain equal amounts.
Now take the prime 13. There is no way to arrange the objects in rows with equal amounts in each row. It doesn't matter if you are a different creature, on a different planet, have a different language or mathematics. A dolphin, or any other creature, cannot arrange 13 rocks in rows with equal amounts in each row, with no remainder.
This is a simple yet universal truth that surely any civilization capable of making contact with us would know, and would thus be a common language. One beep, pause, 2 beeps, pause, 3 beeps, pause, 5 beeps, pause, 7 beeps, pause, 11 beeps, etc.
In Steven Hawking's nth dimension universe, all bets are off. of course.
Del |
