On Sun, 17 May 2009 16:47:33 -0400, Warp wrote:

> Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
>> On Sun, 17 May 2009 14:28:56 -0400, Warp wrote:
> 
>> > Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
>> >> I would guess that that piece of information changes quite
>> >> frequently.
>> > 
>> >   It takes but a few seconds for a website to update for the latest
>> >   data.
>> > It's not like the internet were a printed encyclopedia.
> 
>> From which source?  If there are multiple people working on the
>> project, some aware of the work others are doing, and some not, you
>> assume that everyone working on it keeps everyone updated constantly as
>> to their progress.
> 
>> >> Factoring takes time, yes, but there's more than one number being
>> >> factored at any given time...
>> > 
>> >   A number begin factored doesn't mean its status is known.
> 
>> Exactly.  See my above comment.
> 
>   Sorry, I didn't understand. "Exactly"? What exactly?

Its status may not be known, but for any individual number that may be 
being worked on, its status may not be known.  It seems there is no 
central place for people to say "I'm working on 
1234567890123435674575623412341413412342323" or "I've just completed 
128347938729759258761923419846957582091841035735235 and it is/is not 
prime".

Jim

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