What is a factor?
We can find the factors of 1, 2, and 3 digit numbers. To find the factors of a number, you find which numbers multiply to equal a given number. For example, the factors of 5 are 1 and 5 because the only numbers that multiply to equal 5 are 1 and 5. The factors of 4 are 1, 2, and 4 because 1 x 4 = 4 and 2 x 2 = 4.
When working with larger numbers, such as 100, you should start with the lowest numbers and check if they can be divided evenly, with no remainder, into 100.
For example
so 1 and 100 are factors
so 2 and 50 are factors
As there is a reminder of 1, 3 is not a factor of 100
so 4 and 25 are factors
so 5 and 20 are factors
As there is a reminder of 4, 6 is not a factor of 100
so 10 is a factor
Usually, you list the factors in order from least to greatest when you answer the question. The factors of 100 are: 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, and 100.
Sample Math Problems
Question:
What are the factors of 9?
Answer:
1 x 9 = 9
3 x 3 = 9
The factors of 9 are: 1, 3, and 9.
Question:
What are the factors of 48?
Answer:
1 x 48 = 48
2 x 24 = 48
3 x 16 = 48
4 x 12 = 48
6 x 8 = 48
The factors of 48 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, and 48.
Question:
What are the factors of 112?
Answer:
1 x 112 = 112
2 x 56 = 112
4 x 28 = 112
7 x 16 = 112
8 x 14 = 112
The factors of 112 are: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 14, 16, 28, 56, and 112.
Question:
What are the factors of 500?
Answer:
1 x 500 = 500
2 x 250 = 500
4 x 125 = 500
5 x 100 = 500
10 x 50 = 500
The factors of 500 are: 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 50, 100, 125, 250, and 500.
