> Nathan Russell asks
> To start with, thanks to all those who answered my first question.
>
> What I want to know is as follows: If no factors are found for an exponent
> after running the needed curves for a 55 digit factor, what is done? Are
> additional curves run, or is that exponent put aside to await improvements
> in software?
The exponent would probably be put aside unless another
algorithm is known for completing the factorization.
Nathan's earlier question was about M727, the first Mp
with no known prime factors. I anticipate somebody
(perhaps NFSNET) will finish this by ECM or SNFS within two years.
Peter Montgomery
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