Factors of the number 12

Factors of 12

When a number can be completely divided with another number without any remainder, the other number is termed as a factor of the original number. The numbers that divide 12 completely are its factors. 

Therefore, the numbers that divide 12 completely (factors) are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12. The factors can be presented in ordered pairs as well which are (1, 12), (2, 6) and (3, 4).

1 x 12 = 12
2 x 6 = 12
3 x 4 = 12

What are the prime factors of 12?

Factors can be composite numbers as well. In the case of the number 12, 4 and 6 are composite factors. Prime factors, however, are the numbers that are factors but are prime. What is a prime number? It is a number which has only two factors which are one and the number itself. The prime factors in case of 12 are 2 and 3.

Composite Factors of 12 – 4, 6, 12
Prime Factors of 12 – 2, 3

Since 1 is neither a prime number nor a composite number, so we do not include it in any list. Let us now understand how to calculate prime factors of any number.

How to find the prime factors of a number?

There are various methods but we will understand about prime factorizations methods. 

Prime factorization methods are as follows:

• Prime factorization by factor tree method

In this method, we take the number 12 as the root of the tree and keep on breaking down the composite factors till we are left with only prime factors. Let us take a look at how to find its factors using the factor tree method.

Therefore, 12 = 3 x 2 x 2 = 3 x 2²

• Prime factorization using the long division method

In this case, we choose the least possible prime number and start dividing the number and keep on dividing till the answer is 1. Let us see at how it is done:

So, we started dividing with the number 2 and kept on dividing the quotient we got till we reached 1. 

This gives the same answer as the factor tree method.