ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Lenstra elliptic curve factorization

Okay, imagine you have a really big number that is hard to break down into smaller parts. But you want to find out what those smaller parts are so you can use them for math stuff. One way to break down this big number is to use something called Lenstra elliptic curve factorization.

This method uses a special type of math called elliptic curves to find the smaller parts of the big number. You can think of an elliptic curve as a line that kind of looks like a squiggly loop. When you plug in numbers to this line, it spits out other numbers that help you break down the big number.

Using Lenstra elliptic curve factorization, you keep plugging in numbers to this elliptic curve line until you find smaller parts of the big number. It's kind of like digging for treasure - you keep looking for clues until you find what you're looking for.

Once you find these smaller parts, you can use them to do math stuff like figuring out prime numbers or encrypting messages. So, in short, Lenstra elliptic curve factorization is a way to break down a big number using special math that involves an elliptic curve line, so you can use the smaller parts for other math stuff.