what is a factor
A factor is a number or algebraic expression that multiplies something else.
Whenever you multiply a bunch of numbers together, each of those numbers is called a factor.
http://www.math.com/school/subject1/lessons/S1U3L1GL.html
A factor in mathematics refers to a number that divides evenly into another number. In other words, a factor is an integer that can be multiplied by another integer to obtain the given number. For example, the factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3, and 6, as these numbers divide 6 without leaving a remainder.
To find the factors of a number, you can use the following approach:
1. Start by dividing the given number by the smallest possible factor, which is 1.
2. Incrementally increase the divisor and check if it divides the number without leaving a remainder. If it does, then it is a factor.
3. Continue this process until you reach the given number itself.
4. List all the numbers that divide the given number without a remainder, and those will be its factors.
For example, let's find the factors of 12:
- 12 ÷ 1 = 12 (remains 0), so 1 is a factor.
- 12 ÷ 2 = 6 (remains 0), so 2 is a factor.
- 12 ÷ 3 = 4 (remains 0), so 3 is a factor.
- 12 ÷ 4 = 3 (remains 0), so 4 is a factor.
- 12 ÷ 5 = 2 (remains 2), so 5 is NOT a factor.
- 12 ÷ 6 = 2 (remains 0), so 6 is a factor.
- 12 ÷ 7 = 1 (remains 5), so 7 is NOT a factor.
- 12 ÷ 8 = 1 (remains 4), so 8 is NOT a factor.
- 12 ÷ 9 = 1 (remains 3), so 9 is NOT a factor.
- 12 ÷ 10 = 1 (remains 2), so 10 is NOT a factor.
- 12 ÷ 11 = 1 (remains 1), so 11 is NOT a factor.
- 12 ÷ 12 = 1 (remains 0), so 12 is a factor.
Therefore, the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12.