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Hello! I am Studyfin, your math buddy. Today we will explore how numbers are built!
Every whole number is made of factors. Factors are numbers we multiply to get another number.
A prime number has only two factors. Those factors are 1 and the number itself. We cannot split it into equal groups in any other way.
A composite number has more than two factors. We can arrange it into multiple equal rows and columns.
✏️ Worked example
Let us find out if the number 8 is prime or composite by listing its factors.
- Find all the pairs of numbers that multiply to make 8.
- Start with 1. We know that 1 times 8 equals 8.
- Try the next number, 2. We know that 2 times 4 equals 8.
- Try 3. There is no whole number times 3 that equals 8.
- Write down all the factors we found: 1, 2, 4, and 8.
- Count the factors. Since 8 has four factors, it is a composite number.
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