Factors, Prime Numbers & Composite Numbers
by Carol Edelstein
Definition
Product An answer to a multiplication problem.
7 x 8 = 56
Product
Definition
Factor a number that is multiplied by another to give a product.
7 x 8 = 56
Factors
Definition
Factor a number that divides evenly into another number.
56 8 = 7
Factors
Test yourself
What are the factors and products?
1) 6 x 7 = 42
Factors: 6 and 7 Product: 42 Factors: 7 and 9 Product: 63
2) 63 9 = 7 3) 8 x 5 = 40
Factors: 5 and 8 Product: 40
Definition
Prime Number a number that has only two factors, itself and 1.
Example: 7 is prime because the only numbers that will divide into it evenly are 1 and 7.
Examples of Prime Numbers
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37
Definition
Composite number a number that has more than two factors.
Example: The number 8. The factors of 8 are 1, 2, 4, 8.
Examples of Composite Numbers
4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21,
One is special because . . .
One is not prime.
(because it does not have exactly two different factors).
One is not Composite.
(because it does not have more than 2 factors).
Definition
Prime Factorization A way to write a composite number as the product of its prime factors.
2 x 2 x 3 = 12
or
2 x 3 = 12
How to do a Prime Factorization
- - Factor Tree Method - -
Step 1 Write down any
composite number.
48
2 x 24
Step 2
Start dividing by the prime #s (start with 2).
If the composite number is divisible by 2, write it down and find the next factor. If not, check if the factor is evenly divisible by 3, 5, 7, 9, etc.
How to do a Prime Factorization
- - Factor Tree Method - -
Step 3 Check the factors.
If they are prime, you are done. If they are not, proceed to Step 4.
48
2 x 24 2 x 2 x 12
Step 4 Continue dividing.
If one of the factors is divisible by 2, write it down and find the next factor. If not, check if the factor is evenly divisible by 3, 5, 7, 9, etc.
How to do a Prime Factorization
- - Factor Tree Method - -
Step 5 Check the factors.
If they are prime, proceed to Step 6. If they are not, repeat Step 4.
48
2 2 2
x x x
24 2x6
2 x 12 2
x
How to do a Prime Factorization
- - Factor Tree Method - -
Step 5 Check the factors.
If they are prime, proceed to Step 6. If they are not, repeat Step 4.
48
2 2 2
x x x
24 2x6
2 x 12 2
x
Step 6 Write the
Prime Factorization in Exponential Form.
2x2x2x2x3 24 x 3 = 48
Find the Prime Factorization
4
Prime Factorization
2x2
2 =4
2
Prime Factorization in Exponential Form
Find the Prime Factorization
6
Prime Factorization
2 x 3 =6
Find the Prime Factorization
Prime Factorization
Prime Factorization in Exponential Form
27 3x9 3x3x3 3 3 = 27
Find the Prime Factorization
Prime Factorization
Prime Factorization in Exponential Form
12 2x6 2x2x3 2 2 x 3 = 12
Find the Prime Factorization
Prime Factorization
Prime Factorization in Exponential Form
18 2x9 2x3x3 2 2 x 3 = 18
You Have Options
The following screens illustrate another method that you can use to find the Prime Factorization of a Composite Number.
Try it! You may like it better.
How to do a Prime Factorization
- - Ladder Method - -
Step 1 Write down any
composite number.
18
9
Step 2
Start dividing by the
prime #s (start with 2).
If the composite number is divisible by 2, write it on the left of the L and write the other factor below the original composite #. If not, check if the number is evenly divisible by 3, 5, etc.
How to do a Prime Factorization
- - Ladder Method - -
Step 3 Check the factors.
If they are prime, proceed to Step 6. If not, continue the process.
2 3
18
9
Prime
Step 4 Step 5
Continue dividing the # on the next rung of the ladder by the prime #s (start with 2). Repeat this process until the # on the next rung of the ladder is prime.
How to do a Prime Factorization
- - Ladder Method - -
Step 6 Write the
Prime Factorization in Exponential Form.
2 3
18
9
3
Prime Factorization
Prime Factorization in Exponential Form
2x3x3 2 x 32
Find the Prime Factorization
- - Ladder Method - 2 2
56
28
14 7
Prime
Prime Factorization
2 2 2 7
x x x
Prime Factorization in Exponential Form
23 x 7
Summary
One is not a prime or composite number. Two is the only even prime number. Not all odd numbers are prime.
(examples: 9, 15, 21, 27, 33, 35, )
All composite numbers can be written as product of prime numbers.
The End
