a prime number is a whole number greater than 1 whose only two whole number factors are 1 and itself the first few prime numbers are 2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19 23 and 29as we proceed in the set of natural numbers n 1 2 3 the primes become less and less frequent in general however there is no largest prime numberfor every prime number p there exists a prime number p such that p is greater than p prime number is a whole number greater than 1 whose only two whole number factors are 1 and itself the first few prime numbers are 2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19 23 and 29 as we proceed in the set of natural numbers n 1 2 3 the primes become less and less frequent in general