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. In this context, 2 meets all the criteria for primality: it is greater than 1 and can only be divided evenly by 1 and 2.

It's also noteworthy that 2 is the only even prime number; all other even numbers can be divided by 2, making them composite. This unique property of 2 further solidifies its status as the smallest prime number.

The number 1 is not considered a prime number, as it does not meet the definition of having two distinct divisors. The numbers 3 and 4 are greater than 2, making them not the smallest. While 3 is a prime number, it comes after 2 in the number line. Meanwhile, 4 is a composite number because it can be divided by 1, 2, and 4.

In summary, because 2 fulfills the criteria for a prime number and is the least among them, it is recognized as the smallest prime number.