Questioning whether 9 is a prime number seeks to determine if it is a positive integer greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself. For example, 9 is not a prime number because it can be divided evenly by 1, 3, and 9, with no remainder.
The significance of understanding prime numbers extends to many fields, including mathematics, computer science, and cryptography. Prime numbers play a vital role in encryption algorithms that secure online transactions and communications.