Factors are numbers that are multiplied together to make another number. A factor divides a number evenly, leaving no remainder.
Every number has at least two factors: 1 and itself.
To identify the factors of a number, find all the whole numbers that divide it evenly with no remainder.
You can check divisibility by using simple rules (for example, numbers ending in 0 or 5 are divisible by 5).
Let’s find all the factors of 24 by testing which numbers divide evenly into it.
The factors of 24 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24. Always list factors in order from least to greatest.
A number with only two factors, 1 and itself, is a prime number. A number with more than two factors is a composite number.
The number 1 is neither prime nor composite because it has only one factor—1 itself.
Understanding factors helps you simplify fractions, find common denominators, and solve multiplication and division problems efficiently.
Knowing factors supports later math topics like fractions, ratios, and algebraic expressions.