Factors are the numbers that divide another number evenly, meaning there is no remainder. For example, if you take the number 12, its factors are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 because each of these numbers can multiply with another whole number to equal 12:
- 1 × 12 = 12
- 2 × 6 = 12
- 3 × 4 = 12
To find the factors of a number, you can start from 1 and go up to that number, checking which numbers divide evenly into it. Factors are important in various areas of mathematics, including arithmetic, algebra, and number theory.