Factors of a number

If two or more numbers are multiplied then the result is called product of those numbers.

Also the product is called multiple of those numbers. The numbers used to get the product is called factors of the product.

Example: 4 * 7 = 28

28 is the product. 4 and 7 are the factors of 28.

If a number is exactly divided by a second number then the second number is a factor of the first number.

In division if the remainder is zero (0) then the divisor and quotient are factors of the dividend.

Example: 50 / 2 = 25

50 can be divided by 2 without any remainder. So 2 is a factor of 50. The quotient 25 is also a factor of 50.

1 is the factor of every number.

Each number is the greatest factor of itself.

If a number has only two factors then the number is a prime number.

The factors for a prime number are 1 and the prime number itself. 1 is not a prime number.

Example: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, etc are prime numbers because the factors are 1 and the number itself.

If a number has more than two factors the the number is a composite number.

Example: 4 is a composite factor because it has more than 2 factors. The factors of 4 are 1,2 and 4.

If a number is a factor of another number and also a prime number then the number is a prime factor of the other number.

Example: 2 and 3 are prime factors of 12. 4, 6 and 12 are not prime factors of 12.

4 can written as (2 * 2), 6 can be written as (2 * 3) and 12 can be written as (2 * 2 * 3 ).