Number Theory Word Search
Hunt for 20 number theory terms — primes, factors, sequences, and more. Find each word to unlock its encyclopedic definition.
How to Play
- Click and drag (or tap and swipe on mobile) to highlight a word in the grid.
- Words are hidden horizontally, vertically, and diagonally — in any of 8 directions.
- Check the word list on the right to see which terms remain.
- Finding a word unlocks its encyclopedic definition in a popup.
- Click Reveal to show a word's location (−50 pts penalty).
- Complete all words before the timer runs out for a time bonus!
Placing number theory terms in the grid…
Number Theory: The Mathematics of Integers
Number theory studies the properties of integers — whole numbers and their relationships. From the ancient Euclidean algorithm to modern RSA encryption, the patterns hidden in numbers have fascinated mathematicians for millennia and now secure digital communications worldwide.
Prime Numbers
Numbers greater than 1 with no factors other than 1 and themselves. Every integer has a unique prime factorization — the 'fundamental theorem of arithmetic.' Primes are the atoms of the number system.
Divisibility
A number is divisible by another when it divides evenly with no remainder. Divisibility rules (by 2, 3, 5, 9…) are shortcuts that reveal structure without full division.
Modular Arithmetic
Arithmetic that wraps around at a modulus — like a clock. The foundation of all modern cryptography, hash functions, and digital security.
Sequences
Ordered lists of numbers following a pattern. Arithmetic sequences grow by a constant difference; geometric sequences multiply by a constant ratio; Fibonacci sums the two previous terms.
Factorial
The product n! = n × (n−1) × … × 1, counting the number of ways to arrange n objects. Factorials grow explosively fast and appear in probability, combinatorics, and calculus.
Binary
Base-2 number system using only 0 and 1 — the language of all digital computing. Every piece of data stored in any computer is ultimately a sequence of binary digits.