Prime vs composite identification 1
Classify each number as prime or composite. How do you know?
a) \(17\)
b) \(21\)
Hints
- Which numbers divide each given number without leaving a remainder?
- How can the number of factors help you decide between prime and composite?
Solution
1. The only positive factors of \(17\) are \(1\) and \(17\), so \(17\) is prime.
2. The number \(21\) has factors besides \(1\) and \(21\), since \(3\times7=21\). Therefore, \(21\) is composite.
Answer
a) \(17\) is prime because its only positive factors are \(1\) and \(17\).
b) \(21\) is composite because \(3\times7=21\), so it has more than two positive factors.
