Prime numbers

Prime numbers are natural numbers divisible only by one and itself, such as 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and so on. Prime numbers are the Professor’s favorite kinds of numbers in the novel because they are unique, rare, and are so foundationally important to mathematics. He sees prime numbers as children because they have so much potential. Prime numbers in the novel become symbolic of the prime of one’s life. For example, at age 11, Root is in the prime of his childhood while at the age of 29, the Professor was in the prime of his own life.

1975

1975 is year in which the Professor’s auto accident occurs. It is the last year has any solid, long-term memory of, and he remembers everything before the accident with clarity. However, anything that has occurred since the accident in 1975 can only be remembered for 80 minutes at most. 1975 proves to be the...