Sieve

A sieve is a tool or process used to separate or filter smaller particles from larger ones, much like a strainer. Imagine shaking coarse grains of sand and gravel through a mesh screen: the larger pieces stay on top, while the smaller ones pass through. In mathematics, specifically number theory, a sieve like the Sieve of Eratosthenes systematically eliminates multiples of numbers to identify prime numbers. Overall, a sieve helps to filter or refine a set by removing unwanted parts, making it easier to analyze or isolate specific elements.