What is the Difference Between Prime and Composite Numbers?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between prime and composite numbers lies in the number of factors they have.
- Prime numbers are numbers that have exactly two factors: 1 and the number itself. For example, 5 is a prime number because its only factors are 1 and 5. Prime numbers are also called natural numbers since they can only be multiplied by one and themselves.
- Composite numbers are numbers that have more than two factors, meaning they can be divided by at least one positive integer other than 1 and the number itself. For example, 6 is a composite number because it can be divided by 1, 2, and 3, and is not divisible by only itself.
In summary, prime numbers have exactly two factors, and composite numbers have more than two factors. Additionally, 1 is not considered a prime or composite number, as it only has one factor.
Comparative Table: Prime vs Composite Numbers
Prime and composite numbers are two types of numbers that differ based on the number of factors they have. Here is a table highlighting the differences between prime and composite numbers:
| Prime Numbers | Composite Numbers |
|---|---|
| Have exactly two factors, i.e., '1' and the number itself. | Have more than two factors, meaning they can be divided by at least one positive integer other than 1 and themselves. |
| Examples: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97. | Examples: 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 42, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99, 100. |
A prime number is a number that has only two factors, '1' and the number itself. In contrast, a composite number has more than two factors, meaning it can be divided by at least one positive integer other than 1 and itself. The number 1 is not considered a prime or composite number.
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