As of this evening there are 171717 comments on TOP v.2. (The number of all the published comments minus all the Featured Comments.)
Just thought the symmetry was amusing, no big deal otherwise. Carry on!
—Mike the Comment Moderator
Featured Comment by:
Michael Walsh: "Hi Mike Well I won't comment then in case I ruin the symmetry—oh bugger"
As long as we're talking interesting patterns... The prime factorization of 171717 is 3x7x13x17x37.
Posted by: Yonatan K | Monday, 21 March 2016 at 08:40 PM
Dear Mike,
Please be sure to let us know when you get to 271,828 comments, and we can all joyously squeal, "Eeeeee!"
pax / Ctein
Posted by: ctein | Monday, 21 March 2016 at 11:20 PM
That means I was 171715.
Dang ..... I've got no symmetry.
Posted by: Gabe | Monday, 21 March 2016 at 11:22 PM
Nice sequence Mike, but not symmetrical! the next symmetrical number of comments would be 172271.
Sadly, it's not a prime number either - 171717 is also divisible by 3 and 7. However it does have close neighbours as primes: 171713 and 171719.
I wonder what the next symmetrical prime will be after 171717? Any mathematicians who can help? Is that an easy problem to solve?
Just wondering...
Posted by: Lynn | Tuesday, 22 March 2016 at 12:21 AM
171717 has a nice symmetrical divisor as well, 10101. And it appears to be tucked in tightly between two prime numbers (171713 and 171719) which is neat as well.
Posted by: Christer | Tuesday, 22 March 2016 at 01:58 AM
Ah...the things that catch a photographer's eye!
Posted by: Chester Williams | Tuesday, 22 March 2016 at 03:43 AM
Hi
I'm guessing the symmetry has been spoiled by now and it's safe to carry on...
Just for info, it seems that the Nelson-Atkins "American Century" sale has ended (with about 228 books left in stock).
I mention this because after asking among my American friends for someone who would be coming this way who would be willing to carry a heavy book I found one only to discover that my saving on the shipping is absorbed by the increase back to the non-sale price. Oh well, at least I'm setup for the next sale.
C
Posted by: Chas | Tuesday, 22 March 2016 at 09:21 AM
Reminds me of a car buddy who sent me a photo of his hot rod Volvo sports sedan with 123,456 miles on it.
Posted by: Stephen Scharf | Tuesday, 22 March 2016 at 03:00 PM
I always loved the Beagle Boys' symmetrical names.
Posted by: Adrian | Tuesday, 22 March 2016 at 07:52 PM
To answer Lynn's question: the smallest palindromic prime larger than 171717 is 1003001.
To figure it out I wrote a Python program which you can find on my blog https://jonathanfrech.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/palindromic-primes/
Posted by: Jonathan Frech | Wednesday, 23 March 2016 at 12:02 PM
Ctein, that took me a minute. I would say "Nerd!" but then pot/kettle etc..
Posted by: John Willard | Wednesday, 23 March 2016 at 03:15 PM