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In number theory, a branch of mathematics, the special number field sieve (SNFS) is a special-purpose integer factorization algorithm. The general number field sieve (GNFS) was derived from it. The special number field sieve is efficient for integers of the form r e ± s , where r and s are small (for instance Mersenne numbers ).
To factorize a small integer n using mental or pen-and-paper arithmetic, the simplest method is trial division: checking if the number is divisible by prime numbers 2, 3, 5, and so on, up to the square root of n. For larger numbers, especially when using a computer, various more sophisticated factorization algorithms are more efficient.
The principle of the number field sieve (both special and general) can be understood as an improvement to the simpler rational sieve or quadratic sieve. When using such algorithms to factor a large number n , it is necessary to search for smooth numbers (i.e. numbers with small prime factors) of order n 1/2 .
Mersenne numbers are very good test cases for the special number field sieve algorithm, so often the largest number factorized with this algorithm has been a Mersenne number. As of June 2019 [update] , 2 1,193 − 1 is the record-holder, [ 27 ] having been factored with a variant of the special number field sieve that allows the factorization ...
Integer factorization is the process of determining which prime numbers divide a given positive integer.Doing this quickly has applications in cryptography.The difficulty depends on both the size and form of the number and its prime factors; it is currently very difficult to factorize large semiprimes (and, indeed, most numbers that have no small factors).
Number field sieve (NFS) is an integer factorization method, it can be: General number field sieve (GNFS): Number field sieve for any integer Special number field sieve (SNFS): Number field sieve for integers of a certain special form
The sieve methods discussed in this article are not closely related to the integer factorization sieve methods such as the quadratic sieve and the general number field sieve. Those factorization methods use the idea of the sieve of Eratosthenes to determine efficiently which members of a list of numbers can be completely factored into small primes.
The second-fastest is the multiple polynomial quadratic sieve, and the fastest is the general number field sieve. The Lenstra elliptic-curve factorization is named after Hendrik Lenstra. Practically speaking, ECM is considered a special-purpose factoring algorithm, as it is most suitable for finding small factors.