What are Prime and Composite Numbers?

Prime and composite numbers are types of numbers that are classified based on the number of factors that they have. Let’s further answer the question what are prime and composite numbers below.

A prime number is a number that only has two factors: 1 and the number itself. Meanwhile, a composite number can have multiple factors aside from 1 and the number itself, as it can be divided by at least another number. 

A prime number is a unique type of number—it is a natural number greater than 1 that is not composite, meaning it has exactly two distinct factors: 1 and itself. The number 1 is neither prime nor composite because it has only one factor: itself.

Examples of Prime and Composite Numbers

• Examples of prime numbers include 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 13. All these numbers can only be divided evenly by 1 and the number itself.
• Examples of composite numbers include 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 15. This is because you can divide each number evenly by numbers other than 1 and itself. For example, you can divide 4 by 2 or 4 by 1. Another example can be 10, as this number has multiple factors like 1, 2, 5, and 10.

For better visualization, let us look at the factors of the following numbers, then identify if they are prime or composite numbers.

• 2 = 2 and 1; therefore, 2 is a prime number.
• 4 = 2 and 2, 4 and 1; therefore 4 is a composite number.
• 12 = 6 and 2, 3 and 4, 12 and 1; therefore 12 is a composite number.
• 19 = 19 and 1; therefore, 19 is a prime number.
• 25 = 5 and 5, 25 and 1; therefore, 25 is a composite number.

Summary 

• Prime numbers have exactly two factors: 1 and the number itself.
• Composite numbers have more than two factors and can be divided by numbers other than 1 and itself.
• 1 is neither prime nor composite and is a class of itself.

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So, the next time someone asks you, “What are prime and composite numbers,” you know the answer. Keep it up, young genius!

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