What is the smallest prime number?

The smallest prime number is 2. A prime number is defined as a natural number greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself. The number 2 meets this criterion perfectly, as it can only be divided evenly by 1 and 2.

Furthermore, what makes 2 unique among prime numbers is that it is the only even prime number. All other even numbers can be divided by 2, making them composite because they have additional divisors. This characteristic firmly establishes 2 as the smallest and only even prime in the set of prime numbers.

In contrast, 1 is not considered a prime number because it does not meet the requirement of being greater than 1. The numbers 3 and 5, although they are prime, are larger than 2. Thus, while they are examples of prime numbers, they do not fit the criteria for being the smallest.