What is the next prime number after 7?

The next prime number after 7 is 11 because a prime number is defined as a natural number greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself.

Starting from 7, the next whole number is 8, which has divisors of 1, 2, 4, and 8, making it not prime. The next number, 9, has divisors of 1, 3, and 9, so it is also not prime. Following 9, we have 10, which has divisors of 1, 2, 5, and 10, and is similarly not classified as a prime number.

However, when we reach 11, it stands as a prime number, as 11 can only be divided by 1 and 11 itself without any remainder. Thus, 11 is the correct answer as it is the immediate next prime number following 7.

The following number after 11, 12, is not prime due to its multiple divisors, which confirms that 11 is the first prime number encountered post-7.