What is the next prime number after 7?

To identify the next prime number after 7, we first need to understand what a prime number is. A prime number is defined as a natural number greater than 1 that cannot be formed by multiplying two smaller natural numbers. In other words, it has exactly two distinct positive divisors: 1 and itself.

Starting from 7, the next number to consider is 8. However, 8 can be divided by 1, 2, 4, and 8, thus it is not prime. The number 9 is the next candidate, which can be divided by 1, 3, and 9, making it not prime either.

When we get to 10, this number is divisible by 1, 2, 5, and 10, and therefore is not prime. The subsequent number is 11. This number can only be divided by 1 and 11 without yielding any other integers, fitting the definition of a prime number perfectly.

Thus, the next prime number after 7 is 11, confirming that the correct answer is indeed the option that states 11.