What is a Factor? Factor What Is a Factor? A factor is a number that divides into another number exactly, i.e. with no remainder. Download FREE teacher-made resources covering ‘Factor FREE Resources Factor in Maths Definition A factor in maths is one of two or more numbers that divides into a number without a remainder. For example, 10 is a factor of 30 since 30 divided by 10 is 3. However, 10 is not a factor of 27 because 27 divided by 10 is 2 with a remainder of 7. Examples of Factors Finding factors of 12: 1x12=12 2%6=12 3x4=12 So 1, 2,3, 4, 6 and 12 are all factors of 12. Most numbers have an even number of factors but square numbers have an odd umber. 5x5=25 1% 25=25 The factors of 25 are 1, 5, and 25. Factors are also found in algebraic equations. Factoring is the opposite of expanding. For example: Intps:twawtwink.com.ngteaching-wikifactor 18Factorising 2x+8 = 2(x+4) Expanding brackets What Does the National Curriculum in England Say? Children are introduced to factors in Key Stage 2. For more information or guidance, please see the national curriculum in England: mathematics programmes of study. Year 4: Number ~ Multiplication and Divi Pupils should be taught to: ‘* recognise and use factor pairs and commutativity in mental calculations. Year 5: Number ~ Multiplication and Division Pupils should be taught to: + identify multiples and factors, including finding all factor pairs of a number, and common factors of two numbers; + know and use the vocabulary of prime numbers, prime factors and composite (non prime) numbers; + solve problems involving multiplication and division including using their knowledge of factors and multiples, squares and cubes Year 6: Number ~ Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Di Pupils should be taught to: * identify common factors, common multiples and prime numbers. Year 6: Number - Fra‘ ns (Including Decimals and Percentages) Intps:twawtwink.com.ngteaching-wikifactor 218Pupils should be taught to: + use common factors to simplify fractions; use common multiples to express fractions in the same denomination the Classroom Explaining Factors Factor Pairs Children will be taught to find factor pairs ~ two numbers that will give a known product when multiplied together. When finding factor pairs, they should work in a systematic way. 1 and the number itself will always be the first factor pair. When finding factor pairs of 20, for example, 1 and 20 make the first factor pair. Then, we can consider if 2 is a factor. We can multiply 2 by 10 to make the product 20 so 2 and 10 make a second factor pair of 20. We are unable to multiply 3 by another number to make 20 but 4 multiplied by 5 makes 20. 4 and 5 make a third factor pair. 6, 7, 8 and 9 can not be divided into 20 without leaving a remainder. We have already found that 10 is a factor. Once the numbers start repeating, we have found all the factor pairs of a given number. Learning multiplication tables well can help children to understand factor pairs and identify them quickly. Intps:twawtwink.com.ngteaching-wikifactor 38Factor Pairs Factor Trees One of the easiest ways for children to calculate factors is to use a factor tree. This is a simple method used to work out which numbers can be multiplied together to reach a product. As well as being an effective strategy, itis also highly visual The main aim of using this method is to find prime factors. Prime factors are factors that are prime numbers (only divisible by themselves and by 1). A factor tree for the number 24, for example, would look like this: hntpe:tawwtwink.com.ngteaching-wikifactor24 4 6 NAN 2Q@ @@ ® 24 = 2x 2x23 (where all the factors are prime numbers) Every whole number greater than 1 can be expressed as the sum of its prime factors. Prime Factors Most numbers (except square numbers) have an even number of factors. However, a prime number has only two factors - the prime number itself and the number 1. This means it only has one factor pair. A prime factor is simply a factor that is also a prime number. It is a number greater than 1 that cannot be divided exactly by any number except itself or 1 Common Factors When working out the factors of two numbers, there will often be some factors which appear in both lists. We call these ‘common factors’. Factors of 18 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 18. Factors of 24 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24. The common factors of 18 and 24 are 1, 2,3 and 6. The highest common factor is the common factor with the greatest value. Amongst the common factors of 18 and 24, the highest number is 6 so 6 is the highest common factor of these two numbers. Factors and Multiples Factors and multiples are directly linked and are often taught when children are learning multiplication tables. The products in the multiplication tables are the multiples. The multiples of 6, for example, are 6, 12, 18, 24, etc. The factors are the Intps:twawtwink.com.ngteaching-wikifactor 516humbers which divide into the product with no remainder. The factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3 and 6. The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12. Twinkl's Teaching Resources about Factors Year 4 Diving into Mastery: Step 1 Factor Pairs Teaching Pack Planit Maths Year 4 Multiplication and Division Lesson Pack 19: Factor Pairs Planit Maths Year 5 Multiplication and Division Lesson Pack 5: Prime Factors ing Prime Factors (Ages 10 - 11) Rainbow Factor Pairs | Twinkl Maths Resources Year 4 Diving into Mastery: Step 1 Factor Pairs Teaching Pack Prime Factors PowerP< Finding Factors Game Common Factors PowerPoint Differentiated Lesson Teaching Pack Factors and Multiples Display Poster Y6 Common Factors Common Multiples Prime Numbers Posters Teaching Video About Factors {Sian} Intps:twawtwink.com.ngteaching-wikifactor 66