Factors, multiples, and prime numbers are important ideas in math. They are all connected in several ways. It's good to know how they relate, especially for Year 7 students.
A factor of a number is a whole number that can divide that number evenly, meaning there is no remainder left. For example:
To find the factors of a number, look for pairs of numbers that multiply together to make that number. For example, 3 and 4 are factors of 12 because 3 times 4 equals 12.
A multiple of a number is what you get when you multiply that number by any whole number. For example:
You can find the first ten multiples of a number by multiplying it by the numbers 1 through 10.
A prime number is a number greater than 1 that can only be divided by 1 and itself. Some examples of prime numbers are:
Notice that 2 is the only even prime number; all the other prime numbers are odd.
Every prime number is a factor of itself: For example, 5 is a prime number, and its only factors are 1 and 5.
Multiples involve factors: Each multiple of a number can be made by multiplying that number by its factors. For instance, the first three multiples of 4 (4, 8, 12) come from , , and .
Prime factorization: Any whole number greater than 1 can be broken down into prime numbers, which we call prime factorization. For example, the prime factorization of 12 is 2 times 2 times 3 or .
Knowing about factors, multiples, and prime numbers helps us solve math problems better. These concepts are also important for more advanced math topics like least common multiples and greatest common divisors, which are especially useful for Year 7 students.
Factors, multiples, and prime numbers are important ideas in math. They are all connected in several ways. It's good to know how they relate, especially for Year 7 students.
A factor of a number is a whole number that can divide that number evenly, meaning there is no remainder left. For example:
To find the factors of a number, look for pairs of numbers that multiply together to make that number. For example, 3 and 4 are factors of 12 because 3 times 4 equals 12.
A multiple of a number is what you get when you multiply that number by any whole number. For example:
You can find the first ten multiples of a number by multiplying it by the numbers 1 through 10.
A prime number is a number greater than 1 that can only be divided by 1 and itself. Some examples of prime numbers are:
Notice that 2 is the only even prime number; all the other prime numbers are odd.
Every prime number is a factor of itself: For example, 5 is a prime number, and its only factors are 1 and 5.
Multiples involve factors: Each multiple of a number can be made by multiplying that number by its factors. For instance, the first three multiples of 4 (4, 8, 12) come from , , and .
Prime factorization: Any whole number greater than 1 can be broken down into prime numbers, which we call prime factorization. For example, the prime factorization of 12 is 2 times 2 times 3 or .
Knowing about factors, multiples, and prime numbers helps us solve math problems better. These concepts are also important for more advanced math topics like least common multiples and greatest common divisors, which are especially useful for Year 7 students.