Proper Factors

Topic

Prime and Composite Numbers

Definition

Proper factors of a number are all the factors of that number except the number itself and 1.

Description

Proper factors play a significant role in the study of prime and composite numbers. A prime number is defined as a number greater than 1 that has no proper factors other than itself and 1. This means that prime numbers cannot be divided evenly by any other numbers. For example, the number 7 is a prime number because its only factors are 1 and 7, and it has no proper factors.

On the other hand, composite numbers have proper factors in addition to 1 and the number itself. These proper factors are what make composite numbers divisible by more than two distinct numbers. For instance, the number 12 is a composite number because it has proper factors such as 2, 3, 4, and 6, in addition to 1 and 12. Understanding proper factors is crucial for identifying and distinguishing between prime and composite numbers, which is a fundamental concept in number theory and various applications in mathematics.

For a complete collection of terms related to primes and composites click on this link: Prime and Composites Collection.