What are Prime Numbers and Composite Numbers ?

Prime Numbers

A prime number is a positive integer that is divisible by itself and 1 only. Prime numbers will have exactly two integer factors.

Examples: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, etc.

Please note the following facts

Zero is not a prime number because zero is divisible by more than two numbers. Zero can be divided by 1, 2, 3 etc.
(0 ÷ 1 = 0, 0÷ 2 = 0 …)

One is not a prime number because it does not have two factors. It is divisible by only 1

Composite Numbers

Composite numbers are numbers that have more than two factors. A composite number is divisible by at least one number other than 1 and itself.

Examples: 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, etc.

Please note that zero and 1 are neither prime numbers nor composite numbers.

Every whole number is either prime or composite, with two exceptions 0 and 1 which are neither prime nor composite

 

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