A factor of a number can be divided exactly into it, with no remainder. This is useful when 'simplifying' fractions.
When a number is divided by one of its factors, the answer is a whole number. The factor divides the whole number exactly; there is no remainder.
Note: The number itself and 1 are always factors.
Numbers
|
Factors
|
246
|
2, 3, 6, 41, 82 and 123
|
390
|
2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 13, 15, 26, 30, 39, 65, 78, 130, and 195
|
70
|
2, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 35
|
Look at the first example in the table and note:
246 is divided by 2 to get 123 with no remainder - 2 is a factor of 246
246 is divided by 3 to get 82 with no remainder - 3 is a factor of 246
246 is divided by 4 to get 61 with a remainder of 2 - 4 is NOT a factor of 246
246 is divided by 6 to get 41 with no remainder - 6 is a factor of 246