An Algorithm for making tables of Primes. Sequentially write down the Integers from 2 to the highest number you wish to include in the table. Cross out all numbers which are divisible by 2 (every second number). Find the smallest remaining number . It is 3. So cross out all numbers which are divisible by 3 (every third number). Find the smallest remaining number . It is 5. So cross out all numbers which are divisible by 5 (every fifth number).
Continue until you have crossed out all numbers divisible by , where is the Floor Function. The numbers remaining are Prime. This procedure is illustrated in the above diagram which sieves up to 50, and therefore crosses out Primes up to . If the procedure is then continued up to , then the number of cross-outs gives the number of distinct Prime factors of each number.
References
Conway, J. H. and Guy, R. K. The Book of Numbers. New York: Springer-Verlag, pp. 127-130, 1996.
Ribenboim, P. The New Book of Prime Number Records. New York: Springer-Verlag, pp. 20-21, 1996.