Answer:
257 is prime.
Explanation:
To evaluate if a number is prime, we just need to evaluate it for the prime numbers that are equal or lesser than the said number's square root.
In this case, √257 = 16.03 so we just need to see if 257 is divisible by 2, 3, 5, 7, 11 and 13 (the prime numbers that come before 16)
- 257 is odd, so it is not divisible by 2.
- The sum of its digits is 14, therefore, it is not divisible by 3.
- 257 ends in 7, therefore it's not divisible by 5.
- 257/ 7 = 36.71 so it's not divisible by 7.
- 257/ 11 = 23.36 so it's not divisible by 11
- Finally 257 / 13= 19.76 so it's not divisible by 13.
Therefore, 257 is prime.