Factors:

Factors are numbers that can be multiplied together to get a specific number. In other words, a factor of a number is a whole number that divides that number evenly without leaving a remainder. For example:

• Factors of 12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12. (Because 1 × 12 = 12, 2 × 6 = 12, and 3 × 4 = 12)

Let’s imagine you’re playing with building blocks. Think of factors as the different ways you can build a number using blocks. If you have a number, like 12, factors are the different block sizes you can use to build it exactly without any leftover blocks.

For example:

• If you use blocks that are size 1, you need 12 blocks to build 12.
• If you use blocks that are size 2, you only need 6 blocks (because 2 × 6 = 12).
• If you use blocks that are size 3, you need 4 blocks (because 3 × 4 = 12).
• If you use blocks that are size 4, you need 3 blocks (because 4 x 3 = 12).
• If you use blocks that are size 6, you need 2 blocks (because 6 x 2 = 12).

So, the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 because these are the sizes of blocks that fit perfectly into 12.

Example:

For the number 6:

• Factors: 1, 2, 3, and 6.
• Multiples: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and so on.

Understanding factors and multiples is crucial for various areas of math, including simplifying fractions, finding common denominators, and solving problems involving divisibility.