Factors and Prime Factorization
A factor is an integer that divides another integer without leaving a remainder. Finding the factors of a number is a foundational skill for middle school mathematics, simplifying fractions, and polynomial algebra.
Factor Pairs
Every integer greater than 1 has at least two factors: 1 and itself. Factor pairs are two integers that, when multiplied together, equal the original number. For the number 12, the factor pairs are (1,12), (2,6), and (3,4).
Prime Factorization
The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic states that every integer greater than 1 is either prime itself or can be represented as a unique product of prime numbers. The prime factorization of 60 is 2 × 2 × 3 × 5. This is the cryptographic basis of modern internet security (RSA encryption).