In today’s world, we rely on technology for just about everything—banking, shopping, communicating, and even healthcare. With so much personal information being shared online, keeping it safe from hackers is a top priority. But did you know that something as simple as prime numbers plays a huge role in protecting your data?

Mathematics is often described as the language of the universe, and at the heart of this language lies a simple yet profound concept: prime numbers. Prime numbers, which are whole numbers greater than 1 that can only be divided by 1 and themselves, are like the building blocks of all other numbers. In fact, every number can be uniquely broken down into a combination of prime numbers, much like how molecules are made of individual atoms.

Short-term memory tasks are fundamental in cognitive psychology, helping us understand how our brain processes, retains, and retrieves information over short periods. One engaging way to explore these concepts is through the Primemo game, which involves memorizing a list of drawings performing a distractor task, and then recollect the drawings as a story.

As a math tutor, I've had the privilege of guiding many students through their journey of understanding and appreciating the beauty of mathematics. Each student brings unique challenges and triumphs, and today, I want to share a story that profoundly changed my approach to teaching. This is the story of my first student, Emily, and how the Nim method transformed her mathematical journey.