Number Factors

Hi. In this math post, the focus is on number factors. This topic is useful for those at around grades six to ten. Number factors are helpful for division, and the algebra method of factoring.

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What Is A Factor?
Examples of Number Factors
Prime Numbers & Prime Factorization
Practice Problems
Answers
References

What Is A Factor?

A number factor is a positive whole number which (exactly) divides into another whole number with a zero remainder. In other words, a whole number divided by a factor gives another whole number. As an example, any even number can be divided by 2 with zero remainder.

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Examples of Number Factors

Here are some examples.

The number 6 has factors of 1, 2, 3 and 6 itself. These factors divide into 6 exactly since 6 ÷ 1 = 6, 6 ÷ 2 = 3, 6 ÷ 3 = 2, and 6 ÷ 6 = 1.

The number 15 has factors of 1, 3, 5, and 15 itself. We can have 1 × 15 = 15, and 3 × 5 = 15. Alternatively, we can show that 15 ÷ 1 = 15, 15 ÷ 3 = 5, 15 ÷ 15 = 1, and 15 ÷ 5 = 3.

Factors are not restricted to numbers. We can use variables such as x. As an example, factors of are 1, x and itself.

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Prime Numbers

If a whole positive number has two factors which are 1 and itself, this number is considered as a prime number. Examples of prime numbers include 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, and 29.

Prime Factorization

Any positive whole number greater than one has number factors which are prime numbers. As an example, the number 42 can be written as:

42 = 2 x 3 x 7