Prime Number

Definition

A prime number is a positive integer greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself. Prime numbers are fundamental building blocks of the number system and play a crucial role in various mathematical concepts, including finding multiples and factors.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Prime numbers have exactly two distinct positive divisors: 1 and the number itself.
2. The smallest prime number is 2, and the next prime numbers are 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, and so on.
3. Prime numbers are important in finding the prime factorization of a number, which is the process of expressing a number as a product of prime factors.
4. The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic states that every positive integer greater than 1 can be expressed as a unique product of prime numbers.
5. Prime numbers are essential in the study of number theory and have applications in cryptography, coding theory, and various other areas of mathematics.

Review Questions

• Explain how prime numbers are used to find the factors of a number.
  • Prime numbers are the building blocks of all positive integers. To find the factors of a number, you can first find its prime factorization, which involves expressing the number as a product of prime numbers. The factors of a number are then all the possible combinations of these prime factors. For example, the prime factorization of 12 is 2 × 2 × 3, and the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12, which are all the possible combinations of 2 and 3.
• Describe the relationship between prime numbers and the concept of multiples.
  • Prime numbers are closely related to the concept of multiples. By definition, a multiple of a number is the product of that number and another integer. Since prime numbers have only two positive divisors (1 and the number itself), the multiples of a prime number are the set of all positive integers that are divisible by that prime number. For example, the multiples of the prime number 7 are 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and so on. Understanding the relationship between prime numbers and multiples is essential for finding the multiples of a given number.
• Analyze the importance of prime numbers in the context of finding factors and multiples.
  • Prime numbers are fundamental to the concepts of factors and multiples because they are the building blocks of all positive integers. Every positive integer greater than 1 can be expressed as a unique product of prime numbers, a result known as the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic. This property of prime numbers allows us to find the prime factorization of a number, which in turn helps us determine its factors and multiples. By understanding the characteristics of prime numbers and how they relate to factors and multiples, we can develop efficient strategies for solving problems involving these mathematical concepts.

Related terms

Composite Number: A composite number is a positive integer that has at least one positive divisor other than 1 or itself.

Divisor: A divisor is a positive integer that divides another integer without leaving a remainder.

Factor: A factor is a positive integer that divides another integer without leaving a remainder.