Composite numbers are natural numbers greater than 1 that have more than two distinct positive divisors. This means that in addition to being divisible by 1 and themselves, they can also be divided by at least one other number.
For example:
- 4 is a composite number because it can be divided by 1, 2, and 4.
- 6 is a composite number because it can be divided by 1, 2, 3, and 6.
- 9 is a composite number because it can be divided by 1, 3, and 9.
In contrast, prime numbers are numbers greater than 1 that have exactly two distinct positive divisors: 1 and themselves (for example, 2, 3, 5, and 7).
The smallest composite number is 4.