Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!twain.rutgers.edu!wenger
From: wenger@twain.rutgers.edu (Rephael Wenger)
Newsgroups: comp.theory
Subject: Re: factoring a large prime
Keywords: factor prime
Message-ID: <Jul.17.08.56.13.1990.1180@twain.rutgers.edu>
Date: 17 Jul 90 12:56:15 GMT
References: <1519@excelan.COM> <113487@linus.mitre.org>
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
Lines: 11



If I remember correctly the 150 digit number factored into
two numbers of about 15 and 135 digits each.  Doesn't the
assymetry here suggest that in some sense the original
number was "easy" or at least "easier" to factor than
other 150 digit numbers?  For cryptographic systems
one would usually form a key by multiplying two
primes of about equal length, say 75 digits each.
How much more difficult is factoring a number 
of this sort?