Gauss created one of the first mathematical datasets by computing the first ~100,000 prime numbers and discovered the prime number theorem empirically—that the number of primes up to X is approximately X divided by the natural logarithm of X—through statistical analysis without proof, establishing the first important statistical conjecture in mathematics.

factualpending

Speaker

Terence Tao

Evidence Quote

He just computed the first 100,000 prime numbers or so, hoping to find patterns... the drop-off in the density was inversely proportional to the natural logarithm of the range of numbers.

Source

Terence Tao – How the world’s top mathematician uses AIDwarkesh Patel
Created: 8/12/2026, 6:05:48 PM

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