Prime Numbers - a physical proof that they are 6N+/-1 after 3

thingiverse

This object has 6 sides and counts from 1 to 60 from top to bottom. The prime numbers are cut all the way through the wall so they stand out. Upon inspection, one will notice that the 1 column and the 5 column have all of the prime numbers after 3. Why is that? Hopefully this is useful for teachers, students and math enthusiasts. It is also a useful bucket for knickknacks, pens, pencils, tools, and other junk on my desk. (prime junk). Discussion Points on primes: - Primes and Remainders go together like Cause and Effect. Is this true? - Heard of Twin Primes? (primes are often separated by two) Can the 6N+/-1 rule help you see how that is true? (if you don't count 2 and 3) - Are there an infinite number of primes? - If primes are infinite then what percent of all numbers to infinity are prime? And finally: - Can you prove that every even number greater than 2 is the sum of two primes? If you can, you've solved the infamous Goldbach's conjecture. This is one of math's greatest unsolved puzzles. I'm betting that a 3D Printing junkie will solve it - if only we can get the perfect fidget toy to help us focus.