Which is the Smallest Odd Prime Number?

Answer: The smallest odd prime number is 3.

1. Prime Number: A prime number is a natural number greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself. In other words, a prime number cannot be evenly divided by any other number except 1 and itself.
2. Odd Number: An odd number is any integer that is not divisible by 2, meaning it leaves a remainder of 1 when divided by 2. Odd numbers are characterized by having a final digit of 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 in the base-10 numeral system.
3. Smallest Odd Prime Number: Among all odd numbers, the smallest one that is also a prime number is 3. This is because 3 is not divisible by any other positive integer except 1 and itself. It is the first odd number greater than 1 that satisfies the definition of a prime number.
4. Verification: To verify that 3 is prime, we can check that it has no divisors other than 1 and 3. Since 3 is not divisible by any other integer between 1 and 3, it meets the criteria for being a prime number.
5. Importance: The fact that 3 is the smallest odd prime number is significant in mathematics and various applications, including cryptography, number theory, and computer science. It serves as a foundational concept in many areas of mathematics and forms the basis for further exploration of prime numbers and their properties.

In summary, the statement “the smallest odd prime number is 3” highlights the unique property of 3 as the smallest prime number among all odd numbers, demonstrating its significance in mathematics and its fundamental role in various mathematical concepts and applications.