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Do you have to find all the factors of a number to decide whether it is composite? Explain.

Question

Do you have to find all the factors of a number to decide whether it is composite? Explain.

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Solution

No, you do not have to find all the factors of a number to decide whether it is composite. A composite number is defined as any number that has more than two distinct factors, namely 1 and the number itself.

Here's a step-by-step explanation:

  1. Start by dividing the number by 2. If the result is a whole number, then the number is composite because it has another factor other than 1 and itself.

  2. If the number is not divisible by 2, try dividing it by the next prime number, which is 3. If the result is a whole number, then the number is composite.

  3. Continue this process with the next prime numbers (5, 7, 11, etc.) until you find a factor or until you reach a prime number that is greater than the square root of the number you're testing. If you reach a prime number greater than the square root and have not found any factors, then the number is not composite (it is prime).

This method is more efficient than finding all factors of a number, especially when dealing with large numbers.

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