# Probability/Number Theory question

• November 30th 2009, 07:48 PM
MichaelG
Probability/Number Theory question
Give a random social security number, what are the chances that it's a prime number?

I've been researching how social security numbers are given but this still seems fairly difficult to figure out. Any hints or suggestions are greatly appreciated!
• November 30th 2009, 07:58 PM
Shanks
The distribution of Prime number may offer you a estimate of the probability.
• November 30th 2009, 08:52 PM
Bacterius
Do you have a large source of social numbers to study ? About one hundred thousand would already be a good estimate ... (Sweating)

Otherwise, maybe this could help : SSN
Structure paragraph details about everything you need, I think.
For example, you could work out that :
¤ the first part is issued on geographical region -> study probability that one american picked at random is in one state
¤ the second part is issued in a weird order -> look at the order on the website
¤ the third part is issued in a linear order -> no problems here
• November 30th 2009, 09:46 PM
chisigma
Essential : how many decimal figures does have a 'social security number'?...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$