Factors are the numbers which multiplied together makes another number.
A number can have two or more factors. For example 2 and 4 are factors of 8, because 2 x 4 = 8.
All numbers (except 1) have at least two factors: 1 and the number itself. All numbers have a factor of 1 since 1 multiplied by any number equals that number and all numbers can be divided by themselves to produce 1.
Process of taking number apart to find it’s factors is called factoring.
Here is factor calculator (or factoring calculator) which helps to find all prime and composite factors of provided number:
Factoring examples
Factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 12.
Factors of 30 are 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 15, 30.
Factors of 64 are 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64.
How factors are calculated
Trial division is basic fundamental behind this calculator. Factoring number X is done dividing X by all integer number from 1 to X. If remainder is zero, then it is factor, otherwise it is not.
Let’s find all factors for number 10:
10 / 1 = 10
10 / 2 = 5
10 / 3 = 3.3333..
10 / 4 = 2.5
10 / 5 = 2
10 / 6 = 1.6666..
10 / 7 = 1.4285..
10 / 8 = 1.25
10 / 9 = 1.1111..
10 / 10 = 1
Factors of 10 are 1, 2, 5, 10.
The bigger number the more calculations it must be done to find all factors. It is better to use above factoring calculator instead of doing it manually.