Chapter 1: The Real Number System Factors and Prime Numbers

Book Title: College Prep Algebra

Printed By: Schuyler Field (fields@santarosa.k12.fl.us)

© 2019 Cengage Learning, Cengage Learning

Factors and Prime Numbers

If and are positive integers, then is a factor (or divisor) of if and only if divides
evenly into . For instance, , , , and are all factors of .

The concept of factors allows you to classify positive integers into three groups: prime
numbers, composite numbers, and the number .

1. An integer greater than with no factors other than itself and is called a prime
number, or simply a prime.

2. An integer greater than with more than two factors is called a composite number,
or simply a composite.

Every composite number can be expressed as a unique product of prime factors.

Example 5

Prime Factorization

Write the prime factorization of each number.

a.

b.

c.

d.

Solution

a. is a divisor of . So,

b. is a divisor of . So,

c. If you do not recognize a divisor of , you can start by dividing any of the
prime numbers , , , , , , etc., into . You will find to be the first
prime to divide evenly into . So,
 d. In this case, none of the primes less than divides evenly into . So, is
prime.

Study Tip

A tree diagram is a nice way to record your work when you are factoring a
composite number into prime numbers. For instance, the following tree diagram
shows that .

®
Exercises Within Reach

Classifying an Integer In Exercises 69–80, decide whether the number is

prime or composite.

69.

70.

71.

72.

73.

74.

75.

76.

77.

78.

79.

80.
 Prime Factorization In Exercises 81–98, write the prime factorization of the
number.

81.

82.

83.

84.

85.

86.

87.

88.

89.

90.

91.

92.

93.

94.

95.

96.

97.

98.

Application Example 6

Finding Factors of Note Frequencies

From A220 to A440 on the piano, there are semitones.

Explain why there is no simple standard way for piano tuners to set the frequencies
of the notes between A220 and A440.

Solution

The reason for this is a bit complicated. However, you can see the problem when
you consider that piano tuners have two conflicting goals.

1. One goal is that from each note to the next higher note, you should have the
same multiple. For instance, you want a number such that

The number that works is .

2. A second goal is that you want the frequencies of the notes between A220
and A440 to have as many common factors with as possible. Notes
whose frequencies have common factors harmonize.

When you try satisfying these two goals, you will see that they are conflicting.

®
Exercises Within Reach

99. Packaging You are designing a shipping carton to hold tomatoes. The
carton will contain multiple layers of tomatoes arranged in rows and columns.
One possible arrangement has layers of rows and columns, as shown.
Use the factors of to determine the possible numbers of rows and
columns when the carton has layers.
 100. Inventory You need to arrange boxes on a skid with the same number of
rows and columns in each layer. One possible arrangement has layers of
rows and columns, as shown. Use the factors of to determine the
possible numbers of rows and columns in an arrangement of layers. Which
of these arrangements do you prefer? Explain your reasoning.

Chapter 1: The Real Number System Factors and Prime Numbers

Book Title: College Prep Algebra

Printed By: Schuyler Field (fields@santarosa.k12.fl.us)

© 2019 Cengage Learning, Cengage Learning

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