Factor

Definition

A factor is a number or expression that divides evenly into another number or expression without a remainder. Factors are fundamental building blocks used in various mathematical operations and concepts, including multiplication, division, prime factorization, and the distributive property.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Factors are essential in the multiplication of whole numbers, as they represent the numbers that can be multiplied to obtain a given product.
2. Factors play a crucial role in the division of whole numbers, as the divisor and quotient are factors of the dividend.
3. Prime factorization is a method of expressing a number as a product of its prime factors, which is useful in finding the least common multiple (LCM) and greatest common factor (GCF).
4. The distributive property of multiplication involves factoring out a common factor from a sum or difference, which is a fundamental algebraic concept.
5. Factoring polynomials is a key skill in multiplying and dividing polynomials, as it allows for the simplification of complex expressions.

Review Questions

• Explain how factors are used in the multiplication of whole numbers.
  • Factors are the numbers that can be multiplied together to produce a given product. In the multiplication of whole numbers, factors represent the values that, when multiplied, result in the final product. For example, in the multiplication problem 6 × 4, the factors are 6 and 4, and their product is 24. Understanding the concept of factors is essential in developing fluency with whole number multiplication.
• Describe the role of factors in the division of whole numbers.
  • Factors play a crucial role in the division of whole numbers. The divisor and quotient are both factors of the dividend. For instance, in the division problem 24 ÷ 6, the factors are 6 (the divisor) and 4 (the quotient), as 6 × 4 = 24. Recognizing the relationship between the dividend, divisor, and quotient as factors is key to understanding and performing division of whole numbers effectively.
• Analyze how factors are used in the process of prime factorization and finding the least common multiple (LCM).
  • Prime factorization involves breaking down a number into its prime factors, which are the prime numbers that multiply to give the original number. This process is useful in finding the least common multiple (LCM) of two or more numbers, as the LCM is the product of all the prime factors of the numbers, with each factor raised to the highest power it appears in any of the numbers. Understanding the concept of factors and prime factorization is essential in efficiently determining the LCM of a set of numbers.

Related terms

Prime Factor: A prime factor is a prime number that divides evenly into a given number. Prime factorization involves breaking down a number into its prime factors.

Greatest Common Factor (GCF): The greatest common factor is the largest positive integer that divides two or more integers without a remainder.

Factoring: Factoring is the process of breaking down an expression, such as a polynomial, into a product of simpler expressions or factors.