Basic(Elementary) Mathematics


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Factors and Multiples

Related topic: Divisibility

Factors are numbers that can divide a given number with out a remainder. For example 5 is a factor of 10 because 10/5 = 2.

Multiple is a number that can be divided by a certain integer with out a remainder. For example 12 is a multiple of 6 since 12/6 = 2, no remainder.

Examples:

  1. Find the factors of 12.
  2. So we are going to find the numbers that can divide 12 without a remainder. From divisibility rules
    2 2 can divide 12 because 12 is even
    3 3 can divide 12 because 1+2 = 3 which is divisible by 3
    4 4 can divide 12
    6 6 can divide 12 because 12 can be divided by both 2 and 3.
    Thus the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6
  3. Find five multiples of 12.
  4. So we are going to find the numbers in which if we divide 12 to that number there will be no remainder.
    If there are no other conditions finding the multiples of a certain numer is easy. To find 5 multiples of 12, multiply 12 by any whole number.
    12 x 2 = 24
    12 x 3 = 36
    12 x 6 = 72
    12 x 8 = 96
    12 x 10 = 120

    Five multiples of 12, 24, 36, 72 and 96

One (1) is a factor of every number and all numbers is a multiple of 1.

Related topics: Prime Factorization, Greatest Common Factor, Least Common Multiple