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Num Py Project Euler 3

This document discusses using NumPy and Fermat's factorization method to efficiently find the prime factors of a large number. It provides code to: 1. Create a NumPy array of trial factor values up to the square root of the number. 2. Use NumPy functions like modf, where, take, and ravel to find the first value in the array whose square is an integer, yielding two prime factors. 3. Recursively factor the resulting factors to decompose the original number into all its prime factors. The code is able to quickly find the largest prime factor of 600851475143 as 6857 using this method.

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ivan2
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32 views

Num Py Project Euler 3

This document discusses using NumPy and Fermat's factorization method to efficiently find the prime factors of a large number. It provides code to: 1. Create a NumPy array of trial factor values up to the square root of the number. 2. Use NumPy functions like modf, where, take, and ravel to find the first value in the array whose square is an integer, yielding two prime factors. 3. Recursively factor the resulting factors to decompose the original number into all its prime factors. The code is able to quickly find the largest prime factor of 600851475143 as 6857 using this method.

Uploaded by

ivan2
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NumPy Project Euler Problem 3


Project Euler Problem 3 seems almost impossible to crack. However, using the right algorithm Fermats factorization method and NumPy, it becomes very easy. The idea is to factor a number N into two numbers c and d.
N = c * d = (a + b) (a - b) = a ** 2 - b ** 2

We can apply the factorization recursively, until we get the required prime factors.

1. Create array of trial values


The algorithm requires us to try a number of trial values for a. It makes sense to create a NumPy array and eliminate the need for loops. However, you should be careful to not create an array that is too big. On my system an array of a million elements seems to be just the right size.
a = numpy.ceil(numpy.sqrt(n)) lim = min(n, LIM) a = numpy.arange(a, a + lim) b2 = a ** 2 - n

2. Get the fractional part of the b array


We are now supposed to check whether b is a square. Use the NumPy modf function to get the fractional part of the b array.
fractions = numpy.modf(numpy.sqrt(b2))[0]

3. Find 0 fractions
Call the NumPy where function to find the indices of 0 fractions.
indices = numpy.where(fractions == 0)

4. Find the first occurrence of a 0 fraction


Actually we only need the first occurrence of a 0 fraction. First, call the NumPy take function with the indices array from the previous step to get the a values of 0 fractions. Now we need to flatten this array with the NumPy ravel function.
a = numpy.ravel(numpy.take(a, indices))[0]

Below is the entire code needed to solve the problem.


import numpy #The prime factors of 13195 are 5, 7, 13 and 29. #What is the largest prime factor of the number 600851475143 ? N = 600851475143 LIM = 10 ** 6

def factor(n): #1. Create array of trial values a = numpy.ceil(numpy.sqrt(n)) lim = min(n, LIM) a = numpy.arange(a, a + lim) b2 = a ** 2 - n #2. Check whether b is a square fractions = numpy.modf(numpy.sqrt(b2))[0] #3. Find 0 fractions indices = numpy.where(fractions == 0) #4. a = a = b = b = c = d = Find the first occurrence of a 0 fraction numpy.ravel(numpy.take(a, indices))[0] int(a) numpy.sqrt(a ** 2 - n) int(b) a + b a - b

if c == 1 or d == 1: return print c, d factor(c) factor(d) factor(N)

The code prints the following output:


1234169 486847 1471 839 6857 71

Have a go
I would suggest writing an unit test to check the outcome. Use for example trial division. To get you started here is some of the code of a possible test function. Please fill in the dots.
def is_prime(n): a = numpy.arange(2, n) return len(a[...]) == 0

Also maybe you should try finetuning the size of the trial values array, but be careful. If you liked this post and are interested in NumPy check out NumPy Beginners Guide by yours truly.

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